Defender Brendan Galloway has declared it is exciting to be a part of Plymouth Argyle because he believes it is a club on the up.
The Zimbabwe international, 28, is now into his fourth season at Home Park and although he has had to deal with injury issues along the way when he has been fit he has been a very reliable performer for the Pilgrims, initially in League One and now in the Championship.
Galloway signed a new Argyle contract in the summer, which he described as an ‘easy’ decision and has started the first two league games of the campaign in central defence alongside Lewis Gibson.
“From the day that I came, I have really enjoyed it and it has been an exciting journey,” said Galloway.
“First season we just missed out on play-offs, second season we stormed the league with 101 points, third season in the Championship we achieved our goal again.
“As a club we are growing and we are moving forward. The people here, I love them. My team-mates that I have known for a long time, and the new ones that have come in, we all get along really well so it’s a very good dressing room. I think it’s a club on the up so it’s exciting to be a part of.”
Galloway is also enjoying working with Wayne Rooney, who was appointed as Argyle’s head coach in May.
“I love it,” he said. “Every single day you are learning a lot from him and all his coaches – the details, the intensity of training, it’s very competitive as well, which you want as a footballer. Every day you are coming in with a smile on your face and you are looking forward to training.”
The combination of Galloway and Gibson as Argyle’s centre-backs in a back four is unusual in that both of them are left-footed but they do have a good amount of experience of playing together, first at Everton and now with the Pilgrims.
Galloway said: “I have played alongside Gibbo for a long time and I think we complement each other. We work really well together. We know each other’s strengths and we are always communicating. On and off the pitch we are really close as well.”
After a season-opening 4-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, Argyle have responded well with a 3-0 Carabao Cup win against Cheltenham Town and then a 1-1 draw with Hull City at Home Park last Saturday.
In a Sky-televised Championship clash away to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, Plymouth Argyle battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw despite being reduced to nine men at full-time.
Galloway put in an assured, determined display under heavy QPR pressure in the second half but was substituted after picking up a knock in the closing minutes of the match.