Cheltenham Town

Club Profile

First Played: 1997-8

Win Rate: 43% (from 21 games)

Last Updated: 20 May 2023

It ain’t every day a Conference game is delayed by a bomb scare. But it ain’t every day you’re away to Cheltenham Town on Valentine’s Day either. Now, we’re sure there’s a gag hiding in there about “putting the spark into things” or “going off with a bang”. You’ll have to find and take responsibility for it yourself, however. Our trip to Whaddon Road on 14 February 1998 is just one chapter in this particular story. Mind you, it’s a pretty memorable chapter.

The following season, the Robins continued their rapid rise with promotion into the Football League. It took us a decade to catch them up and we made up for it since; enjoying some handsome wins along the way. But we let them out of our sight once more as they ascended into League One – leaving us behind in League Two. Just when you think you get the measure of a club, they make you rethink everything. But our time came once more when Boro’ were promoted to League One ourselves in 2023.

 

Cheltenham Town: The Facts

Completely-Suzuki Stadium
Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 5NA

01242 573558

www.ctfc.com

 

Who are Cheltenham Town?

Formed in 1887, the Robins are now quite long in the tooth. There’s more than 130 years wrapped up in this club’s story. But it’s not ’til 1932 that we see ’em starting to spread their wings beyond the confines of local football. First, they joined the Birmingham Combination – despite being 50 miles down the road from Brum. Then, in 1935, they decided to join the Southern League. And this would make up the next major chapter in their history.

1932 is also the year the club first played at Whaddon Road. Or whatever it’s called now.

In 1985, the Robins marked 50 years of Southern League football… by leaving. After they claimed the title by just two points from Kings Lynn, they were promoted into the Alliance Premier League; the GM Vauxhall Conference, if you will, as it’d be renamed the following year. For six straight seasons, they were comfortable enough in mid-table. But the 1991-2 season not so much; Cheltenham heading back down to the Southern League.

Why do we know Cheltenham Town?

For the Robins, the next four seasons must’ve been some form of torture. Trying to get back to the Conference, they came second in each of their first three campaigns in the Southern League; Dover (1993), Farnborough (1994) and Hednesford Town (1995) all getting in front of them. The 1995-6 campaign saw them slip to third, before the 1996-7 season saw normal service resume as Gresley Rovers won the Southern League title.

There’s a twist, however.

The Moatmen couldn’t go up as champions because their ground wasn’t up to scratch in the eyes of Conference. So, the Robins were promoted instead; setting up the first-ever meeting between us and them during the 1997-8 season.

Let’s be clear – two things weren’t going in our favour at this point in time. For a start, the Robins were still on the charge; no doubt miffed about staying in the Southern League for four seasons longer than planned. And, second, the dominant Boro’ side of the mid-1990s was now falling apart; both Efe Sodje and Barry Hayles leaving in summer 1997.

Cheltenham Town: Record vs Boro'

Pl W D L F A GD Pts* WR%
Overall 21 9 5 7 31 19 12 31 43%
Home 10 5 1 4 20 9 11 16 50%
Away 11 4 4 3 11 10 1 15 36%
League 19 9 4 6 31 19 12 31 47%
Cup 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 n/a 0%

* league points only


Cheltenham Town: Result-by-Result (Boro' Scoring First)

Saturday 23 September 2023

Tuesday 20 April 2021

Saturday 26 December 2020

Saturday 07 September 2019

Saturday 04 May 2019

Saturday 27 October 2018

Monday 01 January 2018

Saturday 02 September 2017

Tuesday 14 February 2017

Tuesday 27 September 2016

Monday 06 April 2015

Saturday 15 November 2014

Saturday 26 February 2011

Saturday 11 September 2010

Saturday 13 March 1999

Tuesday 16 February 1999

Saturday 06 February 1999

Saturday 19 December 1998

Tuesday 01 December 1998

Saturday 14 February 1998

Friday 19 December 1997

Craig Dobson Profile
Byron Harrison Profile
Barry Hayles Profile
Tom Pett Profile
Craig Reid Profile
Justin Richards Profile
Chris Taylor Profile

How to get to Cheltenham Town – Travel Information – Distance: 111 miles


By Road

Let’s take the direct route for this one and keep things simple. Go south on the A1(M) and hook up with the counter-clockwise M25; you’ll be wanting the M40. After near enough 30 miles on the M40, bear left at Junction 8 and come off onto the A40. You’ll be following this all the way through Oxford and up to Cheltenham now.

As you get to Cheltenham itself, take a right onto Hales Road (B4075) for 0.7 miles. This will bring you to a roundabout, where you turn left (first exit) for Hewlett Road. You’ll only be on here for 0.2 miles before turning right onto Cleeve View Road. It’s another 0.2 miles on here, before you’re turning left onto Whaddon Road.

Tools: AA Route Planner | Highways Agency


Parking

You might get a space at the club’s own car park at a cost of £5 if you pre-book – phone 01242 573558 to see if this is possible. Otherwise, the Parklands Social Club will let you park for £4 if not full. Some street parking might also be available in the area.


By Rail

Station: CHELTENHAM SPA
Services to: LONDON PADDINGTON

Cheltenham Spa train station is the nearest to the ground. At around two miles, it might be 45 minutes until you get to the ground. It’s doable if you want, however, and takes you into the centre of Cheltenham for a pitstop on the way.

Exit the station onto Queens Road and cross over, following the Honeybourne Line Cycle and Footpath for around half a mile. Take the pedestrian tunnel; walking along the outside of Waitrose and onto Jessop Avenue. At the roundabout, go straight across and then turn left onto St George’s Place. Turn right at the library onto Clarence Street.

Go on past Primark onto North Street and turn right onto the A46 (Fairview Road). Soon after, it’s a left onto Winchcombe Street. This bends round to the right and then becomes Priestbury Road. Keep going along here until a right turn for Whaddon Road.

Bus:

Stagecoach D bus leaves the station every 10 minutes during peak times.

Taxi:

From the train station car park to the ground, it might set you back £8-10.

Tools: National Rail | TfL Journey Planner