Ground: The Completely-Suzuki Stadium (capacity 7.066)
Location: Cheltenham, England
Ticket price: £26 - Pay online or at ground
Founded in 1887, Cheltenham, located just northeast of Gloucester, played in various regional leagues before gaining promotion to the Football League in 1998, the first time the Robins did so in their history. Under Cotterill, the man who guided them to this success, they were to achieve promotion to League One, before being subsequently relegated one season after leaving. They were to endure further heartbreak in 2015, dropping out of the football league entirely, before Gary Johnson was able to restore some pride, winning the National League with a thumping 101 points, enough to make any Robins crest swell with pride. Under Michael Duff, Cheltenham were able to win League Two outright; their first trophy in the top 4 divisions.
Whilst Cheltenham have been a lower table side in League One since gaining promotion under Duff, this season has been a travesty for the Robins. The Robins, having been tipped for relegation before a ball was kicked, proceeded to fail to find the back of the net for 11 consecutive league games, equalling the record set firsly by Coventry in 1919-20 and then Hartlepool United in 1992-93. Coventry City were re-elected that season, meaning they played the following season in the Second Division. Hartlepool United also managed to stay up, which is something that Cheltenham can gain confidence from. Prior to the Derby game, Cheltenham fans were holding aloft large banners with arrows on, pointing to the goal, such was their poor luck in terms of finding the back of the net.
The Completely-Suzuki Stadium (or Whaddon Road as it's more commonly known as) is a rough 50 minute walk from Cheltenham Spa train station. Bakeries, quaint cafe's and cute coffee shops dance around the Gloucestershire walkway; perfect if you're there to take in the county's quintesessence. The stadium itself isn't too bad either; there's a section where the away fans can congregate, a pub for the home support and parking facilites nearby. That said, it can be difficult to find, in particular Gate 4 which is hidden away in said parking facilities.
Cheltenham Town's scran offerings contain these below loaded fries. Pulled pork, onions and seasoned fries. I think they cost around £6.50, but they're worth every penny.
Cheltenham were up against Wigan Athletic; a team that are facing their own woes but have started to pick up a bit of form under Shaun Maloney. The Robins, being second from the bottom, displayed the level of defending that perhaps has compounded them to that position within the first 6 minutes. A low cross was played in which was dealt with poorly by keeper Luke Southwood, before Lewis Freestone was the unfortunate man in the way, the ball bouncing off of Southwood onto his chest and into the net for an own-goal. "Here we go again!" were the thoughts aired openly from the home crowd. Cheltenham were at sixes and sevens and Wigan could have put the game to bed within the first half an hour.
However, Cheltenham were able to find their rhythm and in the 31st minute, a poor challenge from Adeeko in the box gave the home side an opportunity to level the scoring; an opportunity Ryan Sercombe took with aplomb, smashing the ball down the centre of the goal.
You could argue that, from then on, if any side were to win this game, it was going to be Cheltenham, however Freestone, the man who put the ball into his own net in the first half, made an ill-timed tackle to gift Wigan a penalty. However, unlike Ryan Sercombe before him, Adam Humphrys was unable to convert his opportunity, placing it down the keeper's left with Southwood reading him like a book. The game proceeded to end 1-1.
Martial Godo, a player I was impressed with in Wigan's game against Shrewsbury, was fairly quiet this game. It was Cheltenham's forwards, Rob Street and Will Goodwin I was impressed with the most. Street in particular was making some impressive runs down the channels and causing his full back all sorts of problems.
Whether Cheltenham Town have enough in their locker to survive this season, I don't know, but I'm sure Street and Goodwin will play pivotal roles if they are to avoid the drop, as will veteran Curtis Davies, who has experienced relegation a couple of times in his career and I'm sure he'll be a strong voice in that dressing room throughout the season.
Cheltenham Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic 11/11/2023
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