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Meet Cheltenham Town
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
THE ROBINS PLAYING SQUAD
BETWEEN THE STICKS
1. Scott Flinders
Joining the Robins in August 2017, he started his career at Barnsley, making his debut in 2005. The Rotherham-born keeper moved to Crystal Palace in 2006 and had loan spells at Gillingham, Brighton & Hove Albion, Yeovil Town, Blackpool and Falkirk before making a permanent move to Hartlepool in 2009. Flinders went on to make 252 appearances for Hartlepool. He later joined York City and Macclesfield Town.
20. Josh Griffiths
The England under-20 international joined the club on a season-long loan in August from Premier League side West Bromwich Albion. It’s his first loan experience away from the Baggies having been a part of their Premier League 2 squad.
AT THE BACK
2. Sean Long
Signing in June 2018 from Lincoln City injury frustrated the Dublin-born defender in his first campaign at the JonnyRocks Stadium, however he became a key member of the squad for the 2019/20 season. Long started his career at Reading and made his pro debut in August 2014. He enjoyed loan spells at Luton Town, Cambridge United and Braintree Town before making a permanent move to Lincoln in 2017. Long has represented the Republic of Ireland from Under-16 up to Under-21 level.
3. Chris Hussey
Cheltenham Town completed the signing of defender Chris Hussey in May 2018. The London-born defender, who was previously with Sheffield United, brings significant experience to the squad having featured throughout the Football League. Hussey started his career at Woking before joining AFC Wimbledon. He has also had spells at Coventry City, Burton Albion and Bury.
Josh Griffiths
4. Ben Tozer
c Robins captain Ben Tozer moved to Cheltenham Town in 2018 from Newport County where he had spent the previous two years. Tozer started his career in the youth set-up at Plymouth Argyle before he made his Football League debut with Swindon Town. The defender has also had spells at Newcastle United, Northampton Town, Colchester United and Yeovil Town and was named in the 2019/20 PFA League Two Team of the Year.
5. Charlie Raglan
Initially joined the Robins on loan from Oxford United until the end of the season in January 2019 but impressive performances saw him make his move to Cheltenham permanent in summer 2019. He started his career with Port Vale however without making a first team appearance at Vale moved to Hinckley United before moving onto Nantwich Town and FC United of Manchester. His form for FCUM saw him picked up by then League One Chesterfield, and over the course of three seasons he went onto make over 50 first team appearances for the Spireites. Whilst there he spent time on loan at Oxford United, which saw him eventually join the club on a permanent transfer. He returned to Port Vale for a loan stint during the second half of the 2017/18 campaign.
6. Dan Bowry
The Antigua & Barbuda international joined Cheltenham in July 2019. The London born defender began his career with Charlton Athletic and in his time at The Valley spent time out on loan at Kingstonian and Hampton & Richmond Borough. In October 2019 he joined National League South side Bath City on loan, helping them reach the play-offs at the end of the campaign.
Ben Tozer
Will Boyle
15. Will Boyle
Joining the club from Huddersfield Town in January 2017, Boyle is one of the longest serving players with the Robins. In his time with Huddersfield the Garforth born centre back spent time on loan at Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town and twice at York City. He also had a spell on loan with Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock.
17. Lewis Freestone
Signing for Cheltenham Town in August, he joined the club after a season as part of the under-23s set up at Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. Before that he had come through the youth set-up at Peterborough United and made his debut for the Posh in League One as a 17-year-old. In his time at London Road he had loan spells at non-league sides Cambridge City, Guiseley, St Albans City, Nuneaton Borough and Bedford Town.
34. Harvey Skurek
A first year scholar who has been involved in the first team squad at the start of his time with the under-18s squad. ended a proposed switch to Anfield. The former England U17 and U18 international moved to Swindon Town in 2016 before a move to India in 2017.
Northern Irishman, Duff was appointed manager in September 2018, undertaking his first senior managerial role in football having and returning to the club where he spent a large part of his playing career. 43-year-old Duff was a centre-back by trade and after spending time with Darlington as a youngster, he signed for Cheltenham in 1996 and became a first team regular, scoring the winning goal against Yeovil Town in 1999 to help the club clinch promotion to the Football League for the first time. Duff went on to make over 300 appearances for the club, and attracted teams higher up the league with Burnley paying to bring him to the club in the summer of 2004. In the next 12 seasons Duff earned legendary status at Turf Moor, and won promotion to the Premier League on three occasions in 2008-09, 2013-14 and 2015-16 when The Clarets won the Championship title. When Duff made his first Premier League start in 2009, he joined a rare group of players to have played in all of the top eight tiers of English football. During his playing career Duff made over 700 appearances, as well as 2earning 24 caps for Northern Ireland. And upon his retirement from playing took up an Academy coaching role with Burnley taking charge of the Under-18s and Under-23s, before taking Cheltenham job.
Michael Duff
Appointed: September 2018 Age: 43
IN THE DUGOUT
THE ENGINE ROOM
7. Conor Thomas
Signing for Cheltenham Town from ATK in the Indian Super League in 2018, the Coventryborn midfielder started his career in the Academy set-up of his home city club before making his debut aged just 16-years-old in January 2011. He went on to make over 100 appearances for the Sky Blues and also had a loan spell at Liverpool in 2011, before injury
8. Chris Clements
Joining the Robins from Grimsby Town in August 2018, Clements career began at Crewe Alexandra. In his time at Gresty Road he had loan spells at Nantwich Town, Leigh Genesis, Stafford Rangers, Hednesford Town and Icelandic
Chris Clements
side IBV. After leaving Crewe he moved to Hednesford where he made over 100 appearances, subsequently earning himself a move to Mansfield Town where he again made over a century of appearances, helping them return to the Football League as Conference champions.
11. Matty Blair
Joined the Robins in September following a four-year stint at Doncaster Rovers. He has also represented Mansfield Town, York City and Fleetwood Town, as well as having brief loan stints at Northampton Town and Cambridge United. Earlier in his career he played in non-league football around the Midlands before getting his break at Kidderminster Harriers and then York - who he helped achieve promotion back to the League in the same season as winning the FA Trophy at Wembley. He’s won promotion out of League Two twice, with Fleetwood and Doncaster.
Matty Blair
18. Finn Azaz
Signed on a season-long loan in August from West Bromwich Albion. Having been at the Hawthorns since a young age, he’s worked his way up to earning a pro deal with them and has been a part of their Premier League 2 set-up and has senior experience from representing the Baggies under-23s in the EFL Trophy.
23. Callum Wright
A January deadline day signing on loan from Leicester City, the 20-year-old has been a regular in the Foxes Premier League 2 U23s squad, since joining them in January 2018 from Blackburn Rovers. Prior to that he had been on the books of Tranmere Rovers and Everton and featured in Leicester’s Papa John’s Trophy squad this season playing the full game in Town’s 3-1 victory over the young Foxes at the Keepmoat Stadium in October.
26. Liam Sercombe
Joined in August 2020 after a three year spell at Bristol Rovers. He started his career at Exeter City and helped them claim back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One. After more than 240 league appearance for the Grecians he made the switch to Oxford United in May 2015 before joining Bristol Rovers in May 2017.
28. Ellis Chapman
Joining the Robins in October 2020 after leaving Lincoln City following three years as a pro at Sincil Bank. Having started his youth career with the Imps, Chapman moved to Leicester City in 2016 but returned to Lincoln a year later where he went on to impress and make his senior debut at just 16. During the 2018-19 campaign he spent time on loan at Chesterfield, while last season he played 17 times for the Imps in all competitions.
Finn Azaz
UP TOP
9. Sam Smith
Joining the Robins on loan last month from Reading for the remainder of the season, the 22-year-old’s youth career started at Manchester United in 2004 before moving the Royals Academy in 2014. Having made 11 first team appearances for Reading, this is the forwards sixth loan away from the Madjeski Stadium, previously spending time at Bishop’s Stortford, Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town, Cambridge United and Tranmere Rovers.
10. Alfie May
Joined Cheltenham in January 2020 from Doncaster Rovers having signed for the Keepmoat Stadium outfit in January 2017 and helping the club earn promotion to League One. Previously he had spent time in non-league football at Billericay Town, Corinthian, Chatham Town, VCD Athletic, Erith & Belvedere, Farnborough and Hythe Town.
Alfie May
14. Andy Williams
The experienced striker joined Cheltenham in the Summer. As a youngster he had actually been a part of the Robins’ youth set-up but it was with Hereford United where he broke into the senior ranks. It was with the Bulls he gained promotion to the Football League for the first time and he’s since gone onto carve a career that’s seen him play over 600 times across the EFL. He’s had spells at Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town, Swindon Town, Doncaster Rovers and Northampton Town who he helped earn promotion with to League One via the play-offs at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Andy Williams 16. Alex Addai
Joining Cheltenham in July 2018 after a two-year spell at Merstham, the 27-yearold started his career in the Tottenham Hotspur youth system. He joined Blackpool in 2010 and signed his first pro deal ahead of the 2012–13 season. He then played for a number of non-league sides including Carshalton Athletic, Whitehawk, Kingstonian and Grays Athletic before joining Merstham in July 2016. Now in his third season at Cheltenham, Addai has made around 80 appearances in all competitions. He had a spell on loan at Maidenhead United this season.
19. George Lloyd
Academy striker George Lloyd signed his first pro contract at Cheltenham Town in December 2017. The Gloucester-born striker – who first joined the club’s Academy ranks as a nine-year-old – has had two loan spells at Hereford in the National League North during the 2018/19 campaign.
29. Indiana Vassilev
Joining on loan last month from Aston Villa, the 19-yearold spent the first half of this season on loan at Burton Albion. He started his career at the famed IMG Academy in the USA before transferring to Villa in 2018 and after success with the U23s was elevated into the first team set-up and last season appeared six times for the Villa first team, including against Liverpool and Manchester United in the Premier League.
RECENT LINE-UP
v Forest Green Rovers (A) D0-0
Saturday, 30 January 2020
