2006-07 Season

17th in League One
League Cup: 2nd round; West Bromwich Albion a. 1-3
FA Cup: 1st round replay; Scunthorpe United a. 0-2
JP Trophy: 3rd round; Shrewsbury Town h. 2-3

Highlight:
1-0 win at Bristol City, 31/1/07

Low Spot:
0-2 home defeat to Northampton Town, 26/9/06

Good:
Shane Higgs
Strapping keeper was one of the best in the section as Cheltenham consolidated after promotion the previous season.
An imposing sight between the sticks Higgs was the main reason the club remained so competitive throughout.
John Finnigan
The captain led by example from midfield with his commitment and energy. Doesn't lack ability either and his seven goals provided a vital contribution.

In Brief:
There was a good start following promotion from League Two with 4 wins from the first 7 games. This was followed by 8 defeats in 9 games, however, and the club found themselves next to bottom.
Consolation could be gained from the fact that all these defeats had been reasonably tight affairs and nobody inflicted a truly demoralising defeat all season.
The club saved itself with 3 wins from the end of January and 5 wins in 8 from the middle of March.
There was still work to be done when they travelled to Rotherham for the penultimate game of the season but a 4-2 win removed all doubts.
Next season will probably be equally taxing, however.

Cheltenham Town FC History

Cheltenham Town Football Club was formed in 1892 and began by playing friendlies before joining the Mid Gloucester League. They were the champions of that league in 1897.

The club turned professional in 1932, the same year that they moved to their current ground at Whaddon Road.

The Robins have spent most of their time since the Second World War in the Southern League although they did manage a spell in the Conference in the 1980's.

They then enjoyed a rapid rise into the Football League after the appointment of Steve Cotterill as manager in 1997. They progressed from the Southern League into the Conference in 1997. Although the Robins were only runners up behind Gresley Rovers they were promoted because Gresley's ground was not of the required standard.

Cheltenham were also runners up in their first season back in the Conference and then won the championship in 1999 to progress into the Football League.

After two solid seasons they made the play offs in 2002. The Robins should have secured automatic promotion but collected only four points from their final five games to finish 4th. They made up for this in the play offs, however, beating Hartlepool United on penalties in the semi finals before winning 3-1 against Rushden & Diamonds in the final.

With Cotterill leaving the club for Stoke City Cheltenham were relegated immediately in 2003 after losing their final game of the season 1-0 at Notts County.

The past two seasons have seen the club safely positioned in mid table in the fourth tier.

Cheltenham have yet to progress beyond the 2nd round of the League Cup but did make it through to the 5th round of the FA Cup in 2002.

They knocked out Kettering Town, Hinckley United, Oldham Athletic and Burnley before losing 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion in the 5th round.

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