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Argyle 1 West Bromwich Albion 0

Saturday, November 15th, 1986;  Division Two (today's Div One)

Thanks to The South West Film & Television Archive, and to Terry Guswell for his help.

Gordon James Mackay Nisbet played 281 games for Argyle, a virtual ever-present and a firm favourite for 6 seasons until Dave Smith sent him to the retirement home up the road in 1987. Amazingly his league career spanned 19 years and 619 league starts, but at right-back goals were scarce. Yet 14 of his 15 league goals were for the Pilgrims and he'll be remembered for some spectacular efforts. His 61st minute winner in this game, one of his best, moved Argyle into 3rd spot in the present First Division.

These video clips are owned by The South West Film & Television Archive, and reproduced with its kind permission:

Sorry about the sound quality - I guess a problem with the sound effects mike, not a stream of jumbo jets landing in the car park.

Nissie on fire 
(45 secs, 1290K)

Other chances 
(49 secs, 1293K)

Dave Smith  & Gordon Nisbet
(38 secs, 984K)

 

 

The following article is an extract from Harley Lawer's excellent  book: "Argyle Classics" published by Green Books, Plymouth (ISBN: 0951381709), and is reproduced with his kind permission.

Sunday Independent:

Those who unwisely dared to suggest that Gordon Nisbet's days might be numbered in the Second Division this season could only stand in open-mouthed awe and amazement.

Even the great majority who count among the veteran's legion of admirers at Home Park couldn't recall when they had last seen the 35-year-old full back smash home a drive with quite the same venomous power and accuracy.

Nisbet has buried a few spectaculars in his time but for certain no goal has ever given him so much personal pride and delight.

 
 

Click on a thumbnail to expand

'It's ten years since I left Albion and I'm sure a lot of people wondered whether it was the same Nisbet playing for Plymouth. They should know now ...' he grinned.

It was two years ago this month when Nisbet last clouted his way on to the scoresheet with the second of three goals against Bristol Rovers at Home Park.

He never dreamed then that he would finish up playing against his old club in the Second Division and even less that he would be celebrating the winner that would put the Pilgrims in third spot in the table after suffering only two defeats in 15 games.

His comment: 'I don't get many goals so it was nice to score against Albion,' qualified for one of the understatements of the year.

A dour contest was crying out for a spark of inspiration when Nisbet stepped into the firing line after Tommy Tynan held off Paul Dyson's challenge to lay off a 6lst minute free-kick from Leigh Cooper.

Nisbet thundered in and his 25-yard blockbuster left Stuart Naylor stranded without a chance.

Albion's defensive operation was closed up so tightly that Argyle needed a bolt from the blue - and preferably from a defender backing up - to break the deadlock.

Tynan, although closely checked by the commanding figure of Dyson, still looked likely to pounce if a chance did fall his way. Instead he turned provider - and Nisbet joyfully accepted the offer.

Argyle - Crudgington; Nisbet, L. Cooper, Goodyear, Burrows, Matthews, Hodges, Coughlin, Tynan, Clayton, Summerfield. Sub: S. Cooper.

West Brom - Naylor; Whitehead, Cowdrill, Palmer, Dyson, Dickinson, Hopkins, Anderson, MacKenzie, Williamson, Crooks. Sub: Thompson. 

Scorers: Argyle - Nisbet

Referee: Mr. J. Martin (Alton, Hants).

Attendance: 14,679. 
 

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