The Manchester United swoop that left Plymouth Argyle empty-handed
There can’t be many instances in which Plymouth Argyle has lost to Manchester United in a bid to sign a player; aside from the Wayne Rooney connection of today, the two teams have hardly ever been mentioned together in the same sentence in recent memory, and the Greens have never made it to the top flight.
However, in 2015, the League Two Pilgrims were eager to sign Andy Kellett for the rest of the season after enjoying his services when he was on loan from Bolton Wanderers.
Before the Red Devils intervened to entice him to Old Trafford in one of the most bizarre moves that even caught the player off guard, it appeared that all was settled on that front.
Andy Kellett catches the eye in initial Plymouth Argyle loan spell
After years of financial instability, the Pilgrims were finally beginning to look up rather than down in League Two when Kellett joined Argyle from the Trotters on a one-month loan deal in October 2014.
The wide player, who was at ease playing anywhere along the left side, quickly adjusted to his new environment and established himself as a player John Sheridan could rely on during his tenure at the club, which was extended to three months following some encouraging performances.
Southampton did not achieve the same outcomes as the Home Park legend Plymouth Argyle.
The Argyle captain was unable to replicate his form from his local club at St Mary’s.
His goal at Sixfields during that period, where he single-handedly tore apart the Northampton Town defenders before placing the ball in the bottom corner, will be remembered by any Argyle supporter worth their salt.
The wide player immediately scythed past the Cobblers’ backline after picking up the ball on the left-hand side. He squirmed past a few unlucky defenders, cut inside two more, and prodded home with a casualness that is rarely seen in a green shirt during those difficult days in the southwest.
| Andy Kellett’s Plymouth Argyle League Two 2014-15 Stats (As Per FBRef) | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 12 |
| Starts | 12 |
| Minutes played | 1,080 |
| Goals | 1 |
John Sheridan was understandably eager to finalise a contract for the young player before the season ended, but few could have predicted what would happen in January as a hectic 24-hour period irreversibly altered the teenager’s career.
Andy Kellett’s shock Manchester United move leaves Plymouth Argyle in the lurch
Argyle was eager to finalise another agreement for Kellett for the rest of the season, even though they had returned to Bolton in January. As the window closed, they must have believed they were set for a reunion.
Hours before the deadline, a contract was reportedly close to be finalised, but United unexpectedly enticed the player to Old Trafford, which would have been obvious to a local boy.
“The deal at Plymouth had all been agreed,” Kellett stated while discussing the situation with the Daily Star. “So, on Deadline Day—quite late, in fact—I visited the training facility. The manager told me that if I wanted to, I could move on loan to Manchester United.
That’s how it happened, then. I was supposed to sign with Plymouth at the training facility, but I ended up signing with Manchester United instead! I was initially somewhat taken aback by it.
”
However, because it was such a significant event, I became really emotional later in the evening. I suppose I was a little shocked at first, but I can’t really recall how I felt.
“I had a great time at Plymouth for the six months prior, but they lacked the amenities that United provided. In light of that, it was a huge, huge shock.
Few would have acted any differently in Kellett’s shoes, even if he may have declined the chance to play regular League Two football with the Pilgrims. The chance to mingle with the best in the game was simply too enticing to pass up.
The only team left to ruin things was Argyle. The Greens struggled into the playoffs and were eliminated by Wycombe Wanderers in the semi-finals, missing that additional bit of talent for the rest of the season.
After his tenure at Old Trafford ended, Kellett played for Wigan Athletic, Chesterfield, and Notts County before joining non-league teams like Guiseley and Bury.
Plymouth Argyle would have preferred to see Southampton recruit more players.
Although he only played 32 games for the Greens, the Argyle man had an effect when he was at Home Park.
He has no regrets about declining a return to Home Park ten years ago since he will always remember his brief stint as a Manchester United player, even though his career ended before he turned thirty.
“There is one question I ask myself,” Kellett continued. In fact, Argyle fell to Wycombe Wanderers in the semi-final of the playoffs that season, and Plymouth advanced to the final.
“Maybe I could have taken that path. League One would have been ours if we had advanced that year. However, I don’t believe that switching from playing for the main squad to United’s under-23 team would have hurt me in any way. The opportunity came only once in a lifetime.
