Plymouth-born midfielder Luke Young desperate to see Plymouth Argyle beat the drop

PLYMOUTH Argyle midfielder Luke Young takes tremendous pride in playing for his hometown club and is desperate for them to win their fight for Football League survival.

The bottom-of-the-table Pilgrims take on 21st-placed Barnet in a vital encounter at Home Park today (3pm).

Argyle have come up with a series of ticket offers to encourage more people to attend the game and cheer the team to victory.

Young, who comes from Southway, has been associated with the Pilgrims since the age of nine.

He recently celebrated his 20th birthday but has already made 63 first team appearances for the club in his short career.

Young remembers the days, not so long ago, when Argyle played in the Championship – the second tier of English football – and teams such as Newcastle United visited Home Park.

Now, the Pilgrims are fighting to avoid dropping out of the Football League.

Young told Herald Sport: "I think everyone knows, even those who don't follow football, that Argyle are a big club.

"To see what has happened to the club, from being in the Championship a few years ago to now, is not great.

"It's just a case of everyone getting together now and getting behind us as much as they can.

Young was a regular part of Argyle's team last season when they escaped relegation from League Two despite spending the first three months of the campaign in administration.

Now, a year later, the Pilgrims are embroiled in another tense battle.

Young said: "I was nine when I first joined Argyle. I have seen the club at high points and low points.

"When we do stay up this season it will be a massive achievement considering where we are now.

"Hopefully, we can then push on next season and try to get out of this division as quickly as possible."

That is for the future, though. The immediate concern is picking up enough points to escape relegation.

Young said: "We are taking each game as it comes and trying to put on a good performance.

"All we can concentrate on is what we do. If we keep winning games and keep picking up points here and there them I'm sure we will be fine.

"I think we will stay up. There is enough fight and enough togetherness within the whole club for us to do that."

Argyle's highest attendance at Home Park this season has been 10,003 for the visit of Devon rivals Torquay United on Boxing Day, in a match which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Young said: "When we played Torquay the atmosphere spurred on the players.

"To get another 10,000 crowd, in what is a big game against Barnet, would bring out the best in everyone."

The deadline for Argyle members to buy up to two guest tickets for the crucial clash for £10 has been extended until 12 noon today.

Club officials are also appealing for fans to allow themselves plenty of time to take their seats inside the stadium.

An Argyle spokesman said: "We are encouraging supporters not to leave it to the last minute to get to Home Park.

"We don't want them to miss out on any of the action or, indeed, what promises to be a wonderful pre-match atmosphere."

Argyle will play Exeter City in a reserve team friendly at Home Park on Monday (2pm).

Admission is free for members, otherwise it is £2 for adults and £1 for concessions.