First Played: 1997-8
Win Rate: 40% (from 20 games)
How many Boro’ games over the years do you know that were delayed thanks to a bomb scare? Just the one – Cheltenham Town away. This strange quirk in our tale occurred on Valentine’s Day in 1998. 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’ve more than made up for it since; enjoying some handsome wins along the way.
Jonny-Rocks Stadium
Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 5NA
| Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts* | WR% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 40% |
* league points only
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Hazlewoods Stand
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If you’re planning to go to Whaddon Road and have a disability or impairment, get in touch with either Boro’ (if allocated tickets in advance) or Cheltenham Town themselves for more details about the options available to you. To do this, call 01242 573558 and pick Option 1.
Wheelchair users must book a space in advance. The good news is that there are spaces in the away stand just off Whaddon Road. Carers are seated in a designated area next to the wheelchair space. If you have an ambulant disability, you can pay in advance or on the day however you wish.
For £1, you could chance your arm on the Robins Nest bar at the ground itself. But you won’t be short of options in the local area; the Kemble Brewery Inn, the Sudeley Arms and The Conservatory are all located within a 10-minute walk.
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
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.
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.
Stagecoach D bus leaves the station every 10 minutes during peak times.
From the train station car park to the ground, it might set you back £8-10.
Tools: National Rail | TfL Journey Planner
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