cheltenham town - alternative history

Cheltenham Town were founded by Albert Close White (or Albert Cream as he came to be known) in 1887.

Playing local football with local Gloucestershire cricketers joining the team, the Robins moved through the Birmingham Combination (a.k.a. the Safe Cracker's League) and into the Southern League, before progressing through the pyramid system to the Football League in 1999, when they won the Conference Premier League.

When the club started off they originally wore rugby shirts but they kicked these into touch when they changed to red and white stripes in 1932 and were named the Robins for this reason.

Bobbing around the lower divisions, Cheltenham have won promotion to the third tier on two occasions through the play-offs and failed to do so in 2011-12, losing the final to Crewe Alexandra.

Their movement up in class has seen Whaddon Road been transmogrified into the Abbey Business Stadium and fans will be hoping that the team do the business on the pitch to see them move up to League Two again soon.

FAMOUS PLAYERS :- Frank "Twister" Hazard, Gilbert Jessop, Bob Taylor, Barry "Scrabble" Addict, Andy Gray, Jim Black, Neil Grayson.

FAMOUS FANS : - - (-), - (-), - (-)

Formed	1887
Turned Professional	-
Became a Limited Company	-
Previous names	-
Previous grounds	Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground Carter's Field Whaddon Road/Abbey Business Stadium
Nickname	"The ROBINS"
Club Colours	Red shirts, red shorts, red socks
Record Win	12-0 v Chippenham Rovers (FA Cup 3QR) 02.11.1935
Record Defeat	1-10 v Merthyr Tydfil (Southern League) 08.03.1952
Record Football League Win	-
Record Football League Defeat	-
Record Fee Paid	£60,000 to ALDERSHOT TOWN for Jermaine McGLASHAN (January 2012)
Record Fee Received	£400,000 from COLCHESTER UNITED for Steven GILLESPIE (June 2008)
Record Football Appearances	702 Roger THORNDALE (1958-1976)
Record Football League Appearances	-
Record League goal-scorer	38 - Martin DEVANEY (1999-2005)
Record goal-scorer	290 - Dave Lewis (three spells between 1967 and 1983)
Record goal-scorer in a season	53 - Dave Lewis (1974-1975)
Record goal-scorer in a League season	20 - Julian Alsop (2001-2002)
Most goals in a match	-
Record Home Attendance (all-time)	8,326 v Reading (FA Cup R1) 17.11.1956
Record match receipts	-
Record total of goals in a League season	66 (Division 3 - 2001-2002) (League 2 - 2011-2012)
Record League points total	78 (Division 3 - 2001-2002)
Most Capped Player while at club	-
Youngest League Player	Kyle HAYNES vs Oldham Athletic March 2009
Youngest Player	Paul COLLICUTT
Oldest Player	Clive WALKER vs Gloucester City May 1999

Telephone - 01242 573558
Ticket Office - 01242 588117
Ticket information - tickets@ctfc.com
Club shop - 01242 588102
Information - info@ctfc.com
Fax : 01242 224675

Capacity : 7,066
Pitch size : 111 yards x 72 yards
Official website : www.ctfc.com

From the North (M5): Leave M5 at junction 10 - follow road (A4019 towards Cheltenham. Keep straight on through Traffic Lights, until you come to large roundabout (PC World on right & McDonalds on left), turn left. About 500 yards up this road, you will come to double mini roundabout, go straight over. Keep going about 300 yards, then turn right into Swindon Lane, follow this road over level crossing and two mini roundabouts until you come to larger roundabout. Go straight over (signposted Prestbury) and the FREE Park and Ride service is situated on the left at Cheltenham Racecourse. For the ground, continue past racecourse and turn right (Albert Road), follow this to the end and at a roundabout turn left into Prestbury Road. After 200 yards turn right into Whaddon Road and The Abbey Business Stadium is 300 yards on left.

From the South (M5): Exit M5 at junction 11, follow signs to Cheltenham, you will then be on A40. Continue over first roundabout then at next roundabout bear right, following signs for Oxford A40. After half a mile continue over a set of traffic lights then after another half a mile continue over some more lights, bearing left slightly and continuing to follow signs for Oxford A40. Go straight over next roundabout (still following Oxford A40). At next traffic lights turn right then immediately left into Sandford Road. Continue to a mini roundabout and turn left (still signposted Oxford A40). At next traffic lights continue straight over onto B4075 (signposted Prestbury). After half a mile bear right, staying on B4075 as it becomes Priors Road. Take the next left into Whaddon Road, continue over a mini roundabout and The Abbey Business Stadium is on the right-hand side.
For the free park and ride service, continue along Priors Road then turn right into Bouncers Lane. Continue to a double mini roundabout. Turn left at the first one then take the second exit at the second one onto B4348 Tatchley Lane, signposted Evesham A435. Follow this road to another roundabout, continue straight over and the Cheltenham Racecourse park and ride is on the right-hand side.

From London/Oxford A40: Follow road into and through Charlton Kings, you will come to some lights where the Cirencester Road joins from left. Go straight on, but at next set of lights turn right into Hales Road. This is the B4075 (signposted Prestbury). After half a mile bear right, staying on B4075 as it becomes Priors Road. Take the next left into Whaddon Road, continue over a mini roundabout and the ground is on the right-hand side.
For the free park and ride service, continue along Priors Road then turn right into Bouncers Lane. Continue to a double mini roundabout. Turn left at the first one then take the second exit at the second one onto B4348 Tatchley Lane, signposted Evesham A435. Follow this road to another roundabout, continue straight over and the Cheltenham Racecourse park and ride is on the right-hand side.

From London/Swindon A417: As the A417 continues downhill towards Cheltenham, passing the Air Balloon public house on the left, you will reach a roundabout. Take the first exit signposted Gloucester A417. Continue to junction with M5 motorway then head north on M5 (signposted Worcester). Stay on M5 for one junction then leave at Junction 11 and head towards Cheltenham. Follow directions as above from M5 South.

Train
Cheltenham Spa railway station is over two miles and a good 40 minutes walk from the ground. (buses see below).

Bus
Take the 'D' bus from the railway station car park (every 10 minutes during the day/every 20 minutes in the evening) to the town centre then either walk to the stadium (15 minutes) or take the A bus to The Abbey Business Stadium, Whaddon Road.

Taxi
From the railway station to the ground expect to pay around £8/£10. The taxi rank is located in the station car park (next to the bus stop).