Plymouth legend Hodges looks back at 1984 FA Cup semi-final

Plymouth Argyle's appearance in the 1984 FA Cup semi-final is the furthest the club has ever gone in the competition

"There's the old cliche that you try and treat every game the same, but this was a bit special," says Plymouth Argyle legend Kevin Hodges about the club's biggest FA Cup tie.

In the pantheon of Argyle greats, the 64-year-old is revered as one of Home Park's finest - holding the club record of 620 appearances as well as being a former first team manager and academy director.

But arguably the biggest day of his 14-year playing career with the Pilgrims came when he helped them reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1984.

As Argyle prepare for a trip to Premier League giants Manchester City on Saturday in the fifth round, having beaten league leaders Liverpool in round four, Hodges has been remembering the club's greatest FA Cup run.

Plymouth were in the old Third Division at the time, and had seen off Southend, Barking, Newport County and Darlington in the first four rounds.

In round five they knocked out top-flight West Bromwich Albion with a 1-0 win at The Hawthorns before beating second-tier Derby County in a quarter-final replay at the Baseball Ground.

It set up a glamour tie at Villa Park against a Watford side owned by Elton John, managed by Graham Taylor and inspired by a young John Barnes.

"When you got to the ground the atmosphere of 40,000 people, it was full of green, and in fact it was two teams - Watford and Plymouth - in the semi final for the first time," Hodges told BBC Spotlight.

"It was a fantastic atmosphere, it was a friendly atmosphere, but sadly it was the last game for us that particular season."

First-half goal proves decisive

George Riley's early goal won the match for Watford, who went on to lose to Everton in the final at Wembley

Leading up to the game, Argyle's players had become overnight celebrities in Plymouth as they signed autographs, cut the ribbon to open new shops and gave interviews to a national media that rarely trekked that far south west.

"Players from lower leagues get given that opportunity, providing they get through the rounds and they get the right draw, to test themselves against the best," says Hodges of his big day on 14 April, 1984.

In the end the game was decided relatively early on - George Riley dived in to head home a 13th-minute cross from Barnes, who would go on to make his England debut the next month.

"It was the defining moment and changed the game in their favour, but we justified ourselves and performed really well," said Hodges.

"I believe we were probably the better side on the day, but sadly, the difference between a First Division side and us being a Third Division side was that we didn't take our chances when they came."

Kevin Hodges left his final role as a youth coach at Plymouth Argyle in 2019

Taking their chances is something which still haunts Hodges to this day.

As the second half was coming to a close Gordon Staniforth made his way to the byline and cut the ball back to Hodges, where on an angle about 10 yards out he managed to fire just wide of the far post, spurning a chance to take the game into extra time.

"If it was meant to be it would have gone in," says Hodges, who has replayed the moment countless times in his mind.

"Certainly when it left my foot I thought it was going to go in, but sadly I always say, it hit the little bobble and veered slightly to the left - perhaps if we were playing on today's pitches it might well have gone in.

"It was one of those situations, it was a snapshot and sadly, it didn't go in for us.

"But we did ourselves proud, for a Third Division club I think it was a fantastic achievement."

'There's always a chance'

Plymouth beat Liverpool 1-0 at Home Park earlier this month

Argyle's current squad still have two rounds to go if they want to emulate the class of 1984.

But having beaten Liverpool 17 days ago, as well as Brentford in the third round, they know they have what it takes to get the better of Premier League opposition.

But travelling to a Manchester City side for who the FA Cup is their only realistic chance of silverware this season, will be quite a different task to facing a Liverpool side missing many of its bigger names.

However, Hodges says that under new manager Miron Muslic anything is possible.

"Plymouth have have done really well against Brentford, deservedly won the game, and I was at the game against Liverpool so I witnessed another deserved win," he said.

"I think what I've seen recently is that the new manager's brought in a real desire to defend properly and well.

"The two centre-halves that have come in - it's really refreshing to see those two lads thriving off heading and getting blocks and tackles in - I think it's given the team a real resilience.

"So if they can go up there and defend well and stay in the game there's always a chance that you might get to go up the other end and score a goal.

"I'm sure Plymouth will go up there really confident, it's going to be fantastic for the supporters that go up and all of us still back in the city will be looking with great interest."