Cheltenham Town F.C.

Cheltenham Town

Full name	Cheltenham Town Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Robins
Founded	1887
Ground	Abbey Business Stadium (Whaddon Road) Cheltenham (Capacity: 7,066 (3,912 seated))
Chairman	Paul Baker
Manager	John Schofield (caretaker) Martin Allen (gardening leave)
League	League Two
2008–09	League One, 23rd (relegated)
Home colours Away colours

Cheltenham Town Football Club (pronounced /ˈtʃɛltnəm ˈtaʊn/) is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Whaddon Lane, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more commonly known as Whaddon Road. Their nickname is The Robins. Their current manager is Martin Allen, whose father Dennis Allen also managed the club in the 1970s. However Martin Allen was placed on gardening leave on 20 October 2009 because of racism allegations. So assistant manager John Schofield has been put in charge until further notice.

Cheltenham have only played as high as League One, the third tier of English football, and have played a total of four seasons there. Their best FA Cup run saw them reach the last 16 (fifth round) in 2002. The last piece of silverware won by the club was the Football Conference title in 1999, when the club attained full League status for the first time.

History

This article or section may be slanted towards recent events. Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective. (October 2009)

Formation

Cheltenham has a long history of football prior to The Robins. In 1849, the first use of three official referees in a match, two in field and one in tribune was recorded in the town. However, the modern club was founded in 1887 by Albert Close White. Cheltenham joined the Southern League in 1935 and won promotion to the Alliance Premier League (now the Conference National) in 1985, but were relegated seven years later. They were promoted back to the Conference in 1997 and two years later gained promotion to the Football League. After two mid-table finishes in Division Three (now League Two) they won via the playoffs and were promoted to Division Two (now League One).

Cotterill era

Cheltenham Town's traditional colours

The appointment of Steve Cotterill as manager during the 1996-97 was the start of a revolution at the club. He is Cheltenham Town's most successful manager. Four months after taking charge he guided the club to runners-up spot in the Southern Football League Premier Division, but they won promotion to the Football Conference because champions Gresley Rovers were unable to meet the required ground capacity for Conference membership.

In 1997-98, Cheltenham surprised all the observers by finishing runners-up in the Conference and giving champions Halifax Town a run for their money right up until the end of April, and securing a place at Wembley in the FA Trophy final, beating Southport 1-0 in front of a crowd of some 27,000 of which 19,000 were from Cheltenham. In 1998-99 Cheltenham went one better and secured the Conference title - their passport to the football league.

After two mid-table finishes in Division Three, Cheltenham finally won promotion to Division Two (via the Division Three playoffs) at the end of the 2001-02 season. Shortly after winning promotion, Steve Cotterill left Cheltenham to pursue his career by joining Stoke City as manager.

Backwards and forwards

Meanwhile, Cheltenham replaced Cotterill with first-team coach Graham Allner who had won the Conference championship with Kidderminster Harriers in 1994. Allner and assistant manager Mike Davis, who was originally assistant to Cotterill, were sacked in January 2003, after just six months in the job, with Cheltenham hovering near the foot of Division Two. Cheltenham turned to Bobby Gould, one of the most experienced managers in English football whose exploits include an FA Cup victory with Wimbledon in 1988. Cheltenham continued to struggle and defeat in their final game of the season condemned the club to relegation back to Division Three after just one season.

Gould resigned as Cheltenham Town manager in November 2003 and was replaced by the experienced John Ward, who has been an assistant manager with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Watford, and a manager with Bristol City, Bristol Rovers and York City.

During the 2005-06 season, a new stand for visiting fans was added (The Carlsberg Stand) and a small electronic scoreboard was installed. The club punched above its weight and finished the season in 5th, earning a place in the play-offs. In the semi-final Cheltenham beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 away and drew 0-0 in the second leg at Whaddon Road. In the play-off final, Cheltenham beat Grimsby Town 1-0, securing a place in League One for 2006-07. The match at the Millennium Stadium on 28 May 2006 was attended by 29,196 people, making it the club's largest ever stadium audience. However despite promotion, the average attendance did not increase as the club had hoped, though it increased to 4359. The club were knocked out of the various cup competitions in early stages and were finding it difficult to muster up the funds to invest in additional players. However, with the prudent guidance of chairman Paul Baker and the rest of the board of directors the club gained a stable financial position, preferring not to risk this stability by taking gambles on expensive signings.

Cheltenham opened up the 2007-08 season with a 1-0 win against Gillingham, but suffered an early exit to Southend United 4-1 from the Carling Cup. By the beginning of October, Cheltenham had failed to win at home since the opening day of the season. Results took a turn for the worst with the club going four games without a win. Following Cheltenham's 3-0 defeat to Port Vale, John Ward announced he had agreed a four year contract with League One side Carlisle United and would begin his tenure the following day on 3 October 2007. Ward said he couldn't turn down the possibility of managing a team who could soon be playing in the English Championship. He left the club lying 23rd in the league, above only one team and are now expected to struggle to avoid relegation.

Keith Downing was appointed caretaker manager until the position could be filled. Martin Allen was linked with the club, as many fans believed that Downing was the wrong choice due to his close links to Ward. Cheltenham's results after Downing took charge were mixed, which left many fans disgruntled with Downing's tactics, which appeared as one dimensional as Ward's were.

On 25 November 2007, a sell-out Whaddon Road enjoyed a brave performance against Leeds United, which, after riding their luck, the Robins won 1-0 thanks to an 86th minute winner by in-form striker Steven Gillespie. The result is now one of the most famous in the clubs recent history. The reverse fixture was even more impressive as the Robins became the first team to complete a double over Leeds during their first visit to the third tier of English football.

In January 2008, Cheltenham won four games in a row, the first time the club had achieved this feat since joining the Football League in 1999. During these games they didn't even concede. They however narrowly lost out on two awards for that month - Manager and Player of the Month - after losing to Millwall in the final game of January.

Cheltenham's survival was secured on the final day of the season as they beat Doncaster Rovers 2-1 at Whaddon Road, denying their opposition automatic promotion.^[1]

New leadership

Early in the 2008–09 season Keith Downing parted company with Cheltenham Town^[2] who was replaced - within two days - by Martin Allen, who had been a candidate after Ward's departure a year earlier.^[3] Allen's team started poorly with a club record seven defeats in a row, part of a 15 game run without a victory. The club narrowly avoided administration, and the 10-point penalty which would go with it, before Allen revealed that all the players at the club were up for sale.^[4]

The season finished on a low note - even though Cheltenham had used 51 players, they had conceded over 100 goals in all competitions, and they were relegated back to League Two on the penultimate day of the season after three seasons in League One.

As the 2009-10 season started in July, Allen sold a few players and brought in new ones - including Robins legend Julian Alsop, and former Tottenham Hotspur winger David Hutton. Although they would be thought of as one of the favourites to make an immediate return to League One after being relegated, most bloggers and league analysts have said that a mid-table finish in the most realistic scenario.^[5] Cheltenham won their first match of the season against Grimsby Town 2-1. On 20th October, Martin Allen was put on gardening leave amid allegations he racially abused a nightclub bouncer, and John Schofield took temporary charge.

Timeline

• 1932-33 - Joined Birmingham Combination
• 1935-36 - Joined Southern League, Western Section. Also played in Central Section
• 1955-56 - Southern League runner-up
• 1963-64 - Promoted to Premier Division
• 1968-69 - Relegated to Division One
• 1976-77 - Southern League Division One North runner-up; promoted to Premier Division
• 1979-80 - League re-organised to Southern & Midland Divisions (No Premier); placed in Midland Division
• 1982-83 - Southern League Midland Division Champions; promoted to Premier Division
• 1984-85 - Southern League Champions
• 1985-86 - Joined Alliance Premier League
• 1986-87 - Alliance Premier League renamed Conference
• 1988-89 - Involved in highest scoring game ever to be played on a Sunday v Kettering Town, the game ending 7-4.
• 1991-92 - Relegated to Southern League Premier Division
• 1992-93 - Southern League runner-up
• 1993-94 - Southern League runner-up
• 1994-95 - Southern League runner-up
• 1996-97 - Southern League runner-up, Promoted to Conference due to Gresley Rovers ground failing the requirements
• 1997-98 - Rejoined Conference. Conference runner-up. FA Trophy Winners
• 1998-99 - Conference Champions; Promoted to Football League Third Division; FA Trophy semi-finalists
• 2001-02 - Promoted to Football League Second Division after play-offs
• 2002-03 - Relegated to Football League Third Division
• 2004-05 - Football League Third Division became known as League 2
• 2005-06 - Promoted to League One through end-of-season play-offs
• 2006-07 - Survived the threat of relegation from League One
• 2007-08 - Survived the threat of relegation from League One for the second successive season
• 2008-09 - Relegated back to League Two

Honours

• FA Trophy Winners (1997-98)
• Football Conference Champions (1998-99); Runners Up (1997-98)
• Division Three Play-off Winners (2001-02, 2005-06)
• Southern League Champions (1984-85); Runners Up (1955-56, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1996-97)
• Southern League Midland Division Champions (1982-83)
• Southern League Division 1 North Runners-Up (1976-77)
• Gloucestershire County Cup - Winners 32 times
• Leamington Hospital Cup - Winners (1934-35)
• Midland Floodlit Cup - Winners (1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88)

Players

As of 19 November 2009.^[6]

Current squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Scott Brown 2 MF Dave Bird 3 DF Lee Ridley 4 DF Shane Duff (captain) 5 DF Michael Townsend 6 DF Drissa Diallo 7 MF Michael Pook 8 DF Andy Gallinagh 9 FW Justin Richards 10 MF David Hutton 11 FW Elvis Hammond 12 DF Kyle Haynes 14 MF Marley Watkins 17 MF Josh Low 18 MF Jack Durrant

No. Position Player 22 FW Theo Lewis 26 MF Josh Emery 29 MF Ben Marshall (on loan from Stoke City) 30 FW Jake Lee 31 GK Joe Perry 34 MF Joss Labadie (on loan from West Bromwich Albion) 35 DF Josh Quaynor 38 FW Barry Hayles 39 FW Julian Alsop 40 GK Barry Richardson — DF Ashley Eastham (on loan from Blackpool) — DF Ryan Keen — MF David Pipe (on loan from Bristol Rovers) — MF Cathal Tosh

Out on loan

No. Position Player 21 GK Will Puddy (on loan to Oxford City)

Notable former players

• Steve Cotterill - played non-professionally for the club before embarking on a professional career, later became manager taking Cheltenham from the Southern League up to the Football League. The most successful manager in the clubs history.
• Martin Devaney - made 200 appearances for his hometown team and is currently the club's top scorer in the Football League with 38 goals.
• : Michael Duff - made nearly 250 appearances for Cheltenham. His younger brother, Shane, still plays for the Robins.
• Jerry Gill - made 180 appearances for the Robins, during which he was captain.
• Steven Gillespie - holds the record as the most expensive player sold, for £400,000 in 2008.
• Andy Gray - Scottish international footballer, ended playing career with Cheltenham.
• Neil Grayson - Robins legend who spent five seasons at the club. Scored 17 goals in Cheltenham's promotion to the Football League in the 1999-2000 season.
• Steve Guinan - scored the goal which saw Cheltenham gain promotion to Football League One in their second play-off campaign in 2006.
• Shane Higgs - goalkeeper who was first choice from 2002 to 2009.
• Grant McCann - currently the most expensive player bought by Cheltenham, for £50,000 in 2003
• Bob Taylor - former West Bromwich Albion legend spent a season with the Robins in 2003/04.
• Jamie Victory - spent 11 years at Cheltenham, from 1996 to 2007
• Clive Walker - currently holds the record as Cheltenham's oldest player, at 42 (in 1999)

See also: 50 Greats

Kit Sponsors and Manufacturers

Rivals

Gloucester City. Traditional rivals, although now several leagues apart. Most supporters who have followed the Robins since the non-league days still have a hatred for the "Tigers" and consider them to be the enemy. This rivalry has died down somewhat given Cheltenham's rise up the leagues and the majority of the current fan base have not seen the teams play.

Kidderminster Harriers. Although not considered by some as a "real" derby match due to distance (34 miles apart), there is a genuine bad feeling between the two sets of supporters. Fixtures between these two teams normally require a higher than normal police presence due to the level of ill-feeling. This is something unusual for both clubs who pride themselves on the excellent behaviour of their fans normally. One such example of the ill-feelng was the arrest of a Kidderminster supporter for possessing a fire arm and intending to use it against Cheltenham fans before the last competitive game between the sides in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Local rivals

• Bristol Rovers
• Bristol City
• Swindon Town
• Oxford United
• Forest Green Rovers
• Yeovil Town

Other rivals

Rushden & Diamonds Swansea City

Club Records

• Record transfer paid

• £50,000 Grant McCann from West Ham United (January 2003)

• Record transfer received

• £400,000 Steven Gillespie to Colchester United (June 2008)

• Record attendance

• 10,389 vs Blackpool, FA Cup 3rd round, 13 January 1934 (game played at Cheltenham Athletic Ground)

• Record attendance at Whaddon Road

• 8,326 vs Reading, FA Cup 1st round, 17 November 1956

• Record win

• 12-0 vs Chippenham Rovers, FA Cup 3rd qualifying round, 2 November 1935

• Record defeat

• 1-10 vs Merthyr Tydfil, Southern League, 8 March 1952

• Record appearances

• Roger Thorndale - 702 (1958-1976)

• Record goalscorer

• Dave Lewis - 290 (in 3 spells between 1967-1983) although Reg Smith scored well over 300 in the club's amateur era

• Record goals in a season

• Dave Lewis, 53 in all competitions (1974-1975)

• Youngest player

• Paul Collicutt

• Youngest player in Football League

• Kyle Haynes, vs Oldham Athletic, March 2009

• Oldest player

• Clive Walker, vs Gloucester City, May 1999

Notes

Sources

Cheltenham Town at the Football Club History Database
Cheltenham Town's history page on the official website

External links

• Official Website
• All of the latest Cheltenham Town news from the Gloucestershire Echo
• Robins news, features and audio interviews on BBC Gloucestershire website
• Cheltenhamshire - reports and information
• Cheltenham Town F.C. on BBC Sport: Club News – Recent results – Upcoming fixtures – Club stats