To gauge public support a number of exhibition football matches involving Football League teams took place before the football branch, now known as Plymouth Argyle FC, played their first senior competitive game, a Southern League fixture v. Northampton Town on September 5th, 1903. By this time the facilities included stands at the west end and on the south side.

Following their admittance to the Football League in 1920, a new replacement main stand was constructed on the south side and a new cover (later extended) and concrete terracing installed at the west end. The record attendance of 44,526 was set a few years later at the FA Cup 3rd Round tie v. Huddersfield Town (1-1) on January 13th, 1934.

The ground was so devastated during WWII (both by the attentions of the Luftwaffe and general misuse by allied troops) that at the opening of the first post war season a double decker ‘bus was initially parked alongside of the touchline to serve as dressing rooms on the lower deck and Director’s and Press Boxes on the top. A pavilion, for director’s use, was quickly built in the south east corner but despite this lack of facilities it was not until the 1950s that a new main stand was constructed on the south side and 1965 before a cover was installed on the north side. The roof over the west end was demolished in 1980 and replaced four years later and seats were installed on the north side in 1990.

In 2001 the two ends and the north side were demolished and replaced by a 12,600 seat horseshoe shaped stand with a continuous cantilever roof giving an all-seater capacity of 19,500 at the start of the 2007/8 season. The pitch size was 112 x 72 yards.