By Matt Smith, councillor for Compton ward and Argyle fan.
[Image: Ian Hodgson/PA]Kevin Nancekivell has been in line for some high praise from us Argyle fans over the years, the last 12 months in particular. Amongst all the praise there have been calls – perhaps ironic ones – for him to be given the Freedom of the City. After all, do we even award things like the Freedom of the City anymore?
The answer is… Yes, we do!
Since 1914, only 46 individuals or organisations have received the highest honour that the city can bestow – it really is a big deal.
I have long thought that Nance could be deserving of such an honour, but having been in the away end at Brentford and seeing his reaction after the final whistle, it was obvious that now is the right time.
It’s an enormous privilege that as an Argyle fan and councillor, I have been able to nominate him for this honour.
So, councillors will soon vote on whether or not to bestow the title of Honorary Freeman of the City of Plymouth onto Kevin Nancekivell. The argument for it could not be more clear – here’s why.
None of Nance’s five spells in charge of Argyle have come because he wanted to manage an EFL club. In the world of football, often dominated by egos and big personalities, he is someone who would much rather go about his job – being an exceptional and highly qualified coach – in the background. Instead, every time he has been asked to take charge of the team when we were going through difficult times, he has done so because of his love for the club and city, and because of his sense of duty.
That sense of duty was summed up by this quote, when asked how he felt about taking charge of his beloved Argyle for a fifth spell he said “I’m not a manager, and I have said it for 20-odd years. I do not want to be a manager, but I love this football club more than anything else apart from my family and when they ask me to do something I will do it.”
Despite apparently not being a manager, Kevin Nancekivell has taken charge of 14 matches, securing four wins, six draws and four defeats. A very respectable showing when those spells have always come under challenging circumstances. He has given Argyle fans some memorable moments too. In 2019 he did everything he could to avoid relegation from League 1, securing a win on the final day when results elsewhere ultimately relegated us; last season he saved us from relegation with memorable home wins against Leicester and Hull; and just this season he ended a 9 month run without an away win by beating Premier league opposition for the first time in over 40 years.
That now famous game against Brentford gave us a viral moment where Nance ran towards the away fans, punched the air and let out an almighty roar. His bottom lip then quivered and you could see the emotion of the occasion was close to getting the better of him. But it should come as absolutely no surprise to us that the game at Brentford was such an emotional moment for Nance. When he says that he loves this football club more than anything, other than his family, we all know that it’s the truth.
Nobody can deny his achievements at Argyle, nor can they deny the place that he holds in the hearts of every single Argyle fan, but why the Freedom of the City? Again, the answer is simple.
Our club is at the heart of our city, and Nance is at the heart of our club. When our club is doing well, our city is doing well too. Nobody has given more to our club in the 20 years since he started his coaching career here and it therefore follows that such an immense contribution to our city’s club is also an immense contribution to the city itself.
Argyle fans have a song for Nance. To the tune of ‘Mrs Robinson’ by Simon and Garfunkel… “Oh here’s to you Kevin Nancekivell, Argyle loves you more than you will know”. There can be no better way to show Kevin Nancekivell just how much he is loved, than giving him this honour.
Councillors will vote on the 27th January and I’m confident that my colleagues, of all political colours, will appreciate just how deserving Nance is of this honour.