1) They Have Played at Three Different Grounds
Since they were founded, they have played at Agg-Carter’s Recreation Ground, Carter’s Field, and their current home ground – Waddon Road. The 7,266-capacity ground is actually known as ‘The World of Smile Stadium’, for commercial purposes. The three grounds are all within roughly half a mile of each other.
2) They Have Had Three Different Managers Since 2014
In 2014, then-incumbent manager Mark Yates was approaching his fifth year in charge, but with the club threatened by relegation, he was sacked on November 25th, and replaced by Paul Buckle. Buckle’s tenure was short-lived, however, as he too was sacked after just 79 days in charge. Gary Johnson was his replacement, hired in March last year, and he remains their first-team manager.
3) League One is the Highest League They Have Competed In
Cheltenham have spent four seasons in total in the third tier of English football. The first year was during the 2002/03 season in what was then named Division Two. The other three years started in the 2005/06 season and finished with their relegation back to League Two at the end of the 2007/08 season.
4) They Were Promoted to the Football League in 1999
In 1999, the Robins secured automatic promotion to the Football League and the fourth tier of English football as Conference Premier Champions. It was the last time they won a piece of silverware.
5) Jack Butland Once Signed for Them
Signed in the summer of the 2011/12 season along with Darryl Duffy and Luke Summerfield, Butland (now of Stoke City and a full England International) saw the club reach the FA Trophy quarter-final and face Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the FA Cup.
6) So Did Andy Gray
The Sky Sports commentator was one of the better players the club signed in the 1980’s, alongside Peter Shearer and Brett Angell.
7) Their Football League Win Streak Record is Five League Games
Completed with a 3-0 victory over then-table-topping Southend United, the Robins saw a successful season in which the club finished 6th, making the play-offs.
8) They Weren’t Founded in 1892
Until recent evidence proved otherwise, it was widely thought that the club was founded in 1892. However, it is now believed that the club was formed in 1887, five years earlier.
9) They Were Almost Promoted in Their First Year in the Football League
Despite a slow start, the Robins saw a good run of form in the middle of the season fire them into contention for a play-off spot, but a 2-1 defeat on the final day of the season to Southend prevented them from finishing in a play-off spot.
10) They Did the Double over Leeds
Cheltenham achieved the remarkable feat of being the first team to do the double over Leeds United in League One after their dramatic fall from grace.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
