GARY SAWYER has penned a new one-year extension

GARY SAWYER has penned a new one-year extension to a Home Park career that began 16 years ago.

The Bideford-based left-sided defender, who progressed through the ranks at Home Park and made his debut as a 17 year-old in 2002, said: “It’s something I worked towards last year - I wanted to be here and, luckily enough, the gaffer’s given me another chance to have another year.”

Gary has played 227 times for the Pilgrims, ranked 58th in the list of Argyle appearances, and scored six goals. Last season, in the absence of injured club captain Luke McCormick, he skippered the side for much of the campaign, making 49 appearances.

He said: “It’s a tough year to adjust when you go up a division and we didn’t have a great start. But we had a great finish so – fingers-crossed – that will lead us into a good season this year.

“I captained the youth team; I captained the reserve team; and to get a chance to do it for the first team was a massive honour for me. I grew up here, supported the club as a kid, and all my friends support the club.”

Gary originally left in 2010 and turned out for both Bristol clubs as well as Leyton Orient, before returning to his boyhood club as Derek Adams’ first capture of 2015 and settled back into his familiar position.

“The club is heading in the right direction,” said Gaz. “When I was first here, we were a Championship side – and a good Championship side. Unfortunately, the club went the way it did but it’s in great hands now.

“The gaffer’s running a tight ship and it looks like everyone’s pulling in the same direction.

Before making his first Argyle start, he went out on loan to rivals Exeter City, then a non-league side, and made 62 appearances for the Grecians. He impressed in both legs of their FA Cup-tie against Manchester United, which paved the way for Pilgrims’ manager Ian Holloway to make him a regular in 2006.

No surprise there is it, bit concerned if Gary can chase down a young fast striker homing in on goal.

Waste of a wage, no pace gets roasted by everyone who runs at him, should have left last season not had another 2

Derek seems to like him, being one of his very first signings after taking over at Gnome park.

I'm happy enough with this.

Sawyer is a good, steady left back who rarely has a bad game.

This one was never really in doubt, was it?

Depends on if or when another LB is brought in you can see he upped his game once Taylor sinclair got here , didn't stop his lack of pace being an issue,

Sawyer is by no means perfect but he's pretty good.

You'll probably never get better than 8/10 from him but you'll never get less than 5/10 either.

Just like any player he has limitations but if he didn't he would be playing for Barcelona not us and the full back who never gets skinned is a very rare beast.

His declining pace was exposed quite a few times in the 2nd half of the season. He won't have gotten any quicker a year on. If a first choice left back is brought in, Sawyer would be a decent enough back-up option. But as first choice again this year? That would be massively underwhelming.

Agreed he's so slow it's unreal. Me and Jethro both endured the Yeovil away dabacle and we were exposed very time they ran at Sawyer and that was all night.

Earwegoagain wrote:

Agreed he's so slow it's unreal. Me and Jethro both endured the Yeovil away dabacle and we were exposed very time they ran at Sawyer and that was all night.

I hope this 1 year deal is as a back up to another Left back or we will be exposed all season,
Can't expect the LM or CDM to keep tracking back just to cover for Sawyers lack of pace,

Czarcasm wrote:

His declining pace was exposed quite a few times in the 2nd half of the season.

Declining pace ?
He was always the easiest of players to turn throughout his Argyle career. Has the appearance of a calm head that might help others, but that's about it.

Cheap deal no doubt, nothing against the guy, but his resigning is underwhelming to say the least.

good to have a locker room leader remain at the club. We still need a first choice left back mind but gary is great competition and cover there which is what this squad lacks.

No real problem with this, Sawyer didn't have a bad season and as Beezy said he never was the quickest of players, always preferred him at centre back myself. Thought he got up and down the pitch in support of the attack reasonably well last season at times and can't remember a zillion goals against stemming from attacks down Argyle's left flank, even if you do get outpaced there are ways of using angles to cut out crosses coming in. Not his greatest fan but don't dislike him either and not unhappy to see him sign for another year.

This was obvious he was gunna resign his done the London thing at Orient plus his getting on and the only other option would have be to drop down to league 2 or national league so was expected
Last season he was getting done with pace and kept getting dragged out of position on many occasions

The fact he was never 'quick' in the first place, merely exacerbates the issue! Someone who was never quick in the first place, getting slower, will be a growing problem. It doesn't matter in the middle of the park where a Nalis or a McCall may operate, but a pedestrian full-back is a big no-no in today's game. But yeah, he's a good dressing room influence and worthy squad member. I'd just be concerned if he was our first choice.

In a club wanting to go places, he would have been thanked and told his best days were over. Not at Brent's austerity Argyle. He's perfect, hits Brent and Adams' salary G spot, and I suspect he'll play more games than some of the injury prone newcomers. Still, can always repeat the "we did well, but just ran out of steam ...we'll go again next season" thing.

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Well he would say that wouldn't he?