THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE ROBINS

Watching Altior reach the heights of 18 first class race track wins at Cheltenham. reminded me that there is a very respectable Football League team in the town, presently playing at Whaddon Road in League Two.

The club started playing as early as 1849 when it was recorded that the club used three officials to control their matches. This was a very early attempt to keep the game under watchful "eyes".
In 1887 Albert Close White, a local school master, decided to introduce football to the town and his players met at the East Gloucester Cricket Club, probably using the game as a fitness exercise for the local cricketers.
In 1932, playing in the Birmingham Combination, the club wore a red shirt and soon became known as the "Robins".
In 1933-4 they met Football League club Blackpool in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, playing at home at the local athletic ground and attracting a 10,000 crowd to witness a 1-3 defeat.
Prior to this they had beaten Carlisle United 2-1 away in Rd 2,
Barnet 5-1 in Rd 1,
Calne and Harris 10-1 in the 4th Qualifying Round.
Before this in the QR3 they had lost 1-2 to Llanelli at home but their Welsh opposition was disqualified.
Merthyr Town were their QR2 opponents, Cheltenham won 4-2 away and
in QR 1 they beat Street 4-0.
After 50 years in the Southern League, Cheltenham Town won the FA Trophy in 1997-8 and the 1999 Conference Premier. It is 20 years since the Robins joined the Football League.
Steve Cotterill's team clinched the Conference title having been to AFC Barrow on the weekend of the 6th March 1999. The team travelled overnight and stayed at a hotel in Grange-Over-Sands. Having just been to Grange, I have a feeling a I know where they stayed! Apparently it was full of OAPs! and the local pub full of local Amateur Dramatic players! Much sleep???

1-0 down at half the Robins managed somehow to force a 1-1 draw despite having a man sent off
not that game but.....
They eventually were promoted to the Football League, reaching League 1 after winning the FLTwo in 2001-2. They got to the Third Round proper of the FA Cup in 2003, losing 4-0 away at Sheffield United. They had previously beaten Oldham Athletic and Yeovil Town on their way.
They were National League winners in 2015-16 and they have been in League Two since then, presently 17th/24.
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