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).
JOE RILEY
Full Name: Joseph Michael Riley
Born: 13 October 1991
Came from: Shrewsbury Town Went to: Released
First game: 04 August 2018 Last game: 11 January 2020
Appearances: 38 (30/8) Goals: 2
A right-back, Riley became Argyle's fourth summer signing in as many days in early June 2018.
Born in Salford, he began his career at Bolton Wanderers, but made only nine first team appearances, although three were in the Premier League, including a substitute appearance at boyhood favourites Manchester United at Old Trafford. Unfortunately, his progress was hampered by a succession of injuries. A broken foot put paid to much of his second season at Bolton and he missed all of the 2013-14 campaign with knee ligament damage sustained in pre-season.
To aid his recovery, Riley enjoyed a productive loan spell at Oxford United in the first half of the 2014-15 campaign, making 28 appearances without scoring. On his return, Bolton allowed him to join Bury on a free transfer.
He went on to make 57 appearances and score twice in 18 months for the Shakers, before moving on to Shrewsbury Town in the summer of 2016 on a two-year deal.
Ever-present in the early part of the 2016–17 season, his match time was then restricted by a knee operation in October, a hamstring injury in February and ligament damage and a broken fibula in the final match of the season.
After recovering from his leg break, Riley returned to the side in August 2017 and played his part in the Shrews' push for promotion. In total he scored three times in 55 games for the club, including a substitute appearance in Shrewsbury's unsuccessful 2018 Play-off Final at Wembley Stadium.
He was released by Shrewsbury at the end of the 2017–18 season, enabling his move to Home Park, which he heard about on his wedding day. After a relegation season back to the basement under Derek Adams and the first half of the immediate promotion back under Ryan Lowe, he fell out of favour and was allowed to leave to sign for Mansfield Town in January 2020. He played just six times and scored once across two seasons for the Stags, before announcing his retirement in July 2021 at the age of 29, due to a knee injury.
In June 2022, Riley joined Fleetwood Town as their Head of Recruitment.
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.
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