Cheltenham Town F.C.
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| Cheltenham Town | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Cheltenham Town Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | The Robins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1887 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Whaddon Road Cheltenham (Capacity 7,408) |
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| Chairman | Paul Baker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager |  Keith Downing |
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| League | League One | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | League One, 19th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cheltenham Town Football Club 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. The appointment of Steve Cotterill as manager during the 1996-97 was the start of a revolution at the club. They won promotion to the Conference in his first season as manager despite not actually winning the then Dr Martens league (commonly known as the Southern Football League and currently known as the British Gas Business Football League) 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. They then finished above the relegation zone for two successive seasons thanks to Kayode Odejayi amd Steven Gillespie. Gillespie is now regarded as one of Cheltenham's best ever players after the famous Tom Ayres.
Cotterill then moved to Stoke City and his successor Graham Allner lasted just seven months at the helm before Cheltenham's dismal Division Two form cost him his job. His successor Bobby Gould was unable to stave off relegation and the following season was replaced by John Ward, who guided Cheltenham to glory in the 2005-06 League Two playoffs, beating Grimsby Town in the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
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[edit] History
- 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, 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
- 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
[edit] Cotterill era
Cheltenham Town's most successful manager ever is Steve Cotterill, who joined the club in January 1997. Four months after taking charge he guided the club to runners-up spot in the Dr Martens Premier League (Southern Football League Premier Division), but they won promotion to the Conference because Dr Martens Premier League 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 championship - 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. He remained there for just four months before quitting to become Sunderland's assistant manager, a role which he held for just five months. Cotterill returned to football management in June 2004 with Burnley.
[edit] 02-06 seasons
Meanwhile, Cheltenham replaced Cotterill with first-team coach Graham Allner who had won the Conference championship with Kidderminster Harriers in 1994. But he was 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 ofo May 28 2006 was attended by 29,196 people, making it the club's largest ever stadium audience. However despite promotion, attendances have not increased as the club hoped, though they 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 is in a stable financial position, preferring not to risk this stability by taking gambles on expensive signings.
[edit] 2007-08 season
Cheltenham have brought in Andy Lindegaard from Yeovil Town on a free transfer, left back Lee Ridley signing from 2006-2007 League 1 Champions Scunthorpe United, Aaron Ledgister on a free transfer from Bristol City, Tommy Manship on non-contract terms he had formerly been with Grantham Town and Jennison Myrie-Williams on a months loan from Bristol City. Cheltenham have also signed Guy Madjo from Crawley Town on a month loan with a permanent move set for the future. Michael D'Agostino has also signed a loan contract which will keep him at Cheltenham until January. He signed from Blackpool and is said to be a pacey, lively and a tricky player who likes to get the ball into the box and beat players with his skill.
Cheltenham opened up the 2007-08 season with a 1-0 win against Gillingham in a match that had 3 men sent off, 1 for Cheltenham & 2 for Gillingham. Cheltenham suffered defeat in extra time against fellow League One side Southend United 4-1 in the Carling Cup and narrowly lost 1-0 to Millwall after a goalkeeping error from Shane Higgs just before half time.
As of the beginning of October, Cheltenham had failed to win at home since the opening day of the season. Recent results have taken 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 October 3rd, 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.
After a scathing attack on the fans and Ward on a radio interview on BBC radio Gloucestershire, chairman Paul Baker has promised that Downing is set to make a number of quality signings. However only time will tell if this is in fact true, as previous promises have led to nothing. In addition Martin Allen is being linked with the club, this would be a positive move in the eyes of many fans who see Downing as the wrong choice due to his close links to Ward.
Cheltenham's results after Downing took charge were mixed having drawn 1-1 with Oldham Athletic, a 3-1 win in the Johnstones Paint Trophy against rivals Swindon Town and then a bad 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, which left many fans disgruntled with Downings tactics, which appeared as one dimensional as Wards were.
After draws in their last three home games against Crewe Alexandra and Yeovil Town, in which Cheltenham salvaged points with very late goals. They were then on the receiving end of one in the FA cup in a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Then again 4 days later they faced Brighton & Hove Albion in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and were beaten 4-1, in a good performance in which they were unlucky not to force a penalty shoot-out before losing two late goals on the break. They later lost again in the FA Cup 1st Round 2-1 at the Withdean Stadium. In the league they again drew 2-2 with Southend United throwing away a first-half 2-0 lead.
On 25th November, 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. This result gave them their first win in over two months, and it is now one of the most famous in the clubs recent history, and could be the spring-board for a good run and rise up the table.
In January, 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. After the 1-0 loss to Millwall at the end of January, manager Keith Downing was pipped to the Manager of the Month award by Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez. Steven Gillespie was nominated for Player of the Month, but he too was pipped to the post by Edrissa Sonko of Walsall.
After a run of bad results, Cheltenham had a five match unbeaten run in March/April. This started with a stunning 2-1 victory over Leeds at Elland Road, as Cheltenham became the only team to complete the double over them this season. Then followed a 1-0 victory over West Country rivals Bristol Rovers, with another win against Leyton Orient and draws against Luton Town and Northampton Town.
Despite their poor league position, there were many pleasing performances from players. Young Lithuanian goalkeeper Becki Owen looked very promising, winning the club's young player of the year award. Newly imported Portuguese midfielder James Gale was voted supporter's player of the year, after scoring a stellar 9 goals, without doubt the lowest momment of the season was beating an extremely poor West Bromwich Albion side by only 3 goals to nil. When Becki Owen was interviewed after the game she was quoted as saying, "We should have won by 10, they are probably the worst side I have ever seen."
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]
[edit] 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)
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Notable Former Players
- : Steve Cotterill
: Andy Gray
: Grant McCann
: Kayode Odejayi- : Jamie Victory
- : Michael Duff
: Martin Devaney- : JJ Melligan
- : Steve Book
- : Clive Walker
: Denes Rosa
: Bertie Cozic
: Gregory Goodridge- : Steve Guinan
[edit] 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 Cheltenhams 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.
Leyton Orient. Although very friendly, Cheltenham hold a rivalry with Leyton Orient using the title of El Superclasico. The 2008 / 2009 season will be the eighth of nine seasons in the football league, that the Robins have played at the same level as the East London club.
[edit] Club Records
- Record transfer paid - £50,000 Grant Mccann from West Ham United
- Record transfer received - £200,000 Kayode Odejayi to Barnsley
- Record attendance - 10,389 vs Blackpool FA Cup 3rd round 13th January 1934 (game played at Cheltenham Athletic Ground)
- Record attendance at Whaddon Road - 8,326 vs Reading FA Cup 1st round 17th November 1956
- Record win - 12-0 vs Chippenham Rovers FA Cup 3rd qualifying round 2nd November 1935
- Record defeat - 1-10 vs Merthyr Tydfil Southern League 8th March 1952
- Record appearance - Roger Thorndale 702 (1958-1976)
- Record goalscorer - Dave Lewis 290 (in 3 spells between 1967-1983)
- Record goals in a season - Dave Lewis 53 in all competitions (1974-1975)
- Youngest player - Paul Collicutt
- Youngest player in Football League - Sosthene Yao (18 years and 40 days) Vs Carlisle United 17th September 2005
- Oldest player - Clive Walker
[edit] Sources
Cheltenham Town at the Football Club History Database
[edit] 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
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