MIKE BICKLE

Born: 25 January 1944

Came from: St Austell   Went to: Gillingham

First game: 11 December 1965   Last game: 27 September 1971

Appearances: 195 (184/11)   Goals: 74

Bickle's journey to professional stardom began with Cornish side St Austell, together with midweek games for Co-op Welfare of the Devon Wednesday League, and his prolific scoring record attracted the attention of Argyle manager Derek Ufton. He soon started scoring for Argyle reserves, and, after leaving his job as a milkman with the Co-operative Society, was handed his debut against Southampton in December 1965. Naturally Bickle scored, and he kept on scoring for the next six years. As a local boy, Bickle was the darling of the Home Park terraces, and his courage in the penalty box endeared him to the supporters even more. He finished top goalscorer in his first four seasons with Argyle, and seemed destined for a long and successful career in the game.

The Pilgrims accepted an offer from Gillingham for his services in 1971, but he struggled to settle in Kent and then disaster struck. A collision with a team-mate during a game at Stockport left Bickle temporarily paralysed, and, after an aborted comeback, a broken bone in his neck forced him into early retirement.