TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION
CHELTENHAM TOWN
Until recently it was thought that Cheltenham Town was founded in 1892, but recent evidence has suggested the club’s origins are five years earlier. Albert Close White returned from college in London where he had discovered association football, and trials were held at East Glos Cricket Ground in 1887; the birth of Cheltenham Town. The club played for 30 years in local leagues.
Cheltenham’s red and white colours were adopted in the 1930s, gaining the nickname of ‘The Robins’, and in 1932 they moved to Whaddon Road, whilst turning professional and joining the Birmingham Combination. By 1935 the club had reached the Southern League where they would spend the next 50 years. But for one season in the Premier Division in 1968-69, the Robins stayed in Division One till 1977, and in 1979 only just missed out on promotion to the newly formed Alliance Premier League (aka The Conference). It wasn’t until 1982-83 that Cheltenham finally made it to the Conference, spending seven seasons there, however relegation came in 1992. Promotion was finally achieved again in 199697, and Steve Cotterill led the club to second place finish in the Conference. In 1998-99 the ultimate was achieved as The Robins won the division and with it promotion to the Football League for the first time.
Season 2001-02 saw promotion to League One via the play-offs however their stay in the third tier lasted just a season. They returned in 200506 though, again via the play-offs and managed to keep themselves in League One for the next three seasons, but were relegated in 2008-09. They lost in the play-offs in 2011-12 and 201213, before losing their football league status in 2014-15. Despite numerous summer changes Cheltenham won the National League at the first attempt and have since finished 21st, 17th and 16th. Last season they finished fourth on PPG and after a 2-0 win at Northampton Town in the first leg of the play-off semi-final must have fancied their chances at making the Wembley final, but a 3-0 defeat in the second leg saw the dream ended. This season the Robins are flying high again in League Two after the disappointment of not being promoted last season. As a team they are built on a solid defence that is difficult to break down, and they are quick on the attack. Currently lying eighth in the table, Michael Duff’s side have kept 11 clean sheets, and have found the back of the net 34 times. What’s more is those goals have been shared between 12 players, and it is Andy Williams who leads the way with seven league goals.
FORMED 1887
NICKNAME The Robins
JONNY-ROCKS STADIUM Capacity 7,006
RECORD SCORER Dave Lewis 290 (1967-1983)
RECORD APPEARANCES Roger Thorndale 702 (1958-1976)
RECORD TRANSFER FEE PAID £50k Grant McCann To West Ham 2003 Brian Wilson To Stoke City 2004 Jermaine McGlashan To Aldershot 2012 RECORD TRANSFER FEE RECEIVED £400K Steven Gillespie From Colchester United 2008
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