Forest Green Rovers v Cheltenham Town

[Si Robin]

I will not call it by the pathetic nickname the local press have deemed it as, quite frankly, I can think of nothing more cringeworthy. It is historic though as it is the first all Gloucestershire match in Football League history.

As expected, we have sold out our allocation for this game (896 I believe it was) and I know of a good few people who already have tickets in the home stands. It does feel weird to be talking about a Cheltenham away game in this way.

Circumstances (6 month old twins and a wife who's had no sleep for the majority of that time) mean I won't be going as I would rather go to the Cov game in a couple of weeks time, so I'll be listening to the radio. I wonder if Radio Glos will split the commentary between FGR's commentators and our own like they did before. I hope so because I don't think I could stand Bob Hunt's fawning.

As for the game itself, I honestly expect us to be beaten, although these games tend to be draws (3 of the last 4 league meetings have done so). We're appalling away from home, our only away win coming against an awful Chesterfield who had literally just installed Jack Lester. We'll probably concede 3 goals at least - hopefully we'll be able to put a few in the other goal to make it a cracker.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Think we both are going to have some key players missing so makes it even harder to predict, though I think you might have even more out than us so hope that swings it in our favour. Reckon the proximity and your decent following should go a long way to negating any issues you have with away form. Any derby thing for me is only the improved atmosphere, otherwise it's just about the three points we need that bit more than you.

 

[Chris FGR]

So for the first ever time in the EFL, the two Glos giants collide in the game EVERYONE in football has been waiting for.

EL GLOSICO

Can't wait for this. About time we put one over them. COYR.

 

[Greenacres]

Looking forward to the game, not as much for the bragging rights but the opportunity to drag another team into the battle of the basement. One of my friends caught their game against Cambridge on Tuesday evening, he said their defence was woefully inept but their midfield looked pretty OK...hopefully we can put his comments about the defence to the test but I suspect we may be subjected to a battle in the middle of the pitch with both teams going at each other like a pair of heavy-weights and very few chances on goal. Think it might be a feisty 0-0 on windy-hill.

 

[Si Robin]

Can one of you guys please tell me what the hell this bellend on your forum is going on about? Some of the stats he's coming out with are complete bollocks.

http://forum.fgrfc.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88852&sid=3bba1d52dcef58ff9f2b5c4eac57c6d7

 

[Chris FGR]

Can one of you guys please tell me what the hell this bellend on your forum is going on about? Some of the stats he's coming out with are complete bollocks.

http://forum.fgrfc.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88852&sid=3bba1d52dcef58ff9f2b5c4eac57c6d7

Dunno but he's got you rattled it seems.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Think the Robin's Nest edges it in the bellendery stakes anyway, some right ones on there, but that's club forums for you (see my contributions to ours for confirmation)

 

[Si Robin]

I will never defend the Nest, but I have never seen so much bullshit on one post in my life, and we used have statements from Martin Allen.

 

[Chris FGR]

So sounds like Traore wont make it, Osbourne is touch and go and we lost the appeal over Monthe's red. Gomes is back though.

Midfield options look limited, probably see Collins, Bugiel or maybe Wishart start in there if Osbourne doesn't make it,

 

[longmover]

2-2, only Pell and Wright in the squad from the national (don't know how many left in the fgr squad?) days so can't see the game having the needle the conference games had, as much as the media are trying to stir things up. Just hope it doesn't rain.

Gloucestershire should take some pride in this fixture in it being the first league 'derby', in a county dominated by rugby.

 

[Chris FGR]

2-2, only Pell and Wright in the squad from the national (don't know how many left in the fgr squad?) days so can't see the game having the needle the conference games had, as much as the media are trying to stir things up. Just hope it doesn't rain.

Gloucestershire should take some pride in this fixture in it being the first league 'derby', in a county dominated by rugby.

Two players in our squad as well, Keanu Marsh-Brown and Dale Bennett. Everything coming out from our side suggests we're taking this like any other game, but still reckon both sides will be well up for this. Our fans definitely will be, working with Robins fans means I don't wanna be going in Monday if we lose.

 

[Roger Stone]

Good local derby fellas. Should be good.
Would you mind endulging me on the recent history of FGR, Cheltenham and Gloucester in terms of who has been playing at a higher level.
Remember going to Cheltnum in early mid 90s for an FA cup game which we lost - don’t think you lot were in football league back then.
We had some tidy games v Glos when we ground shared too.
And we’ve been playing FGR /Stroud for yonks.

 

[Chris FGR]

Not played either that much over the last couple of decades.

Up till this season we'd been in the Conference for the last 19 years, 2 of those seasons alongside Cheltenham and all of them above Gloucester. We knocked the tigers out the FA Cup at Whaddon a few years back, but generally it's just been the odd pre-season friendly/senior cup game

The two years Chelts were down in the Conf with us they won the league, last time beating us to the title. Quite a few fans used to watch both. Now we're catching them up size-wise and have a big backer there's definitely more of an edge.

 

[longmover]

Cheltenham were in the league from 1999 to 2015 then one season in the national and back in 2016. Prior to that they were in the conference and the league below in its various forms, Beazer Homes / Dr Martens league south.

I remember that cup game in the 90's as there was some crowd trouble (fight) in the paddock (below the main stand), Nawty!!

 

[Roger Stone]

Didn’t know Cheltnum have been in FL for that long. Was sure us, Glos and Cheltnum were in same league back in the 90s. Obviously Cheltnum kicked on, we returned home and Glos got fucked over by the floods. For the FA cup game we were down the side of the pitch not behind the goals like today’s away end.

 

[Si Robin]

We were in the same League in the 90s, 95/96 and 96/97.

We were relegated from the Conference to the Southern Prem in 1992, we were then promoted in 2nd place behind Gresley Rovers in 1997, pipping Gloucester City by a point after they lost 3-1 to Salisbury City. Newport finished 21st out of 22 teams (http://ctfcnesty.byethost24.com/s1996.htm?i=1). I was at the 0-0 game at the end of the 96/97 season - the only time I've ever been frightened at a football match as some Newport fans tried climbing over a fence to get at us (I was 12 at the time).

It could have been so different had Gloucester beat Salisbury. That being said, they were massively over-spending and when Meadow Park flooded in the early 2000s (before the big one of 2007) they almost went to the wall. The fact they haven't really does say something about the fans of that club. Gloucester maybe our biggest rival, but I respect each and every one of their fans that have stick with them.

If I remember correctly, FGR won the Southern League South and West division in the 96/97 season and then went straight through the Southern Prem to the Conference. In 97/98 we finished 2nd in the Conference (at the time our highest ever position) and then we won it in 98/99. In 98/99 we beat Forest Green 2-1 at The Lawn and drew 1-1 at Whaddon Road when we needed a win for promotion (we beat Yeovil two days later to go up). Forest Green finished 12th (http://ctfcnesty.byethost24.com/s1998.htm).

Good times.

 

[Stripes]

The last time I visited Newport for a game of Football was back in 1988 with Swindon. Swindon won the playoffs that year and Newport were relegated to the fourth division. I vaguely remember the away game may have been the one that confirmed your relegation, but memories are vague now.

I suppose Newport were a fully fledged Gloucestershire side technically while reforming for what was it three seasons. I follow the fortunes of all west country sides, always have, also adding Newport and Hereford into that the region, not actually but mentally at least.

As for today, It’s a real pleasure to have some real rivalry back, something we’ve lacked for years other than Bath and Cheltenham briefly. (and Bristol Rovers, another Gloucestershire side).

I think the air has been knocked out of us following the defeat mid week. I can’t help thinking we'll have to build our strength back up again, therefore I expect a defeat today, possibly a heavy one.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

and Bristol Rovers, another Gloucestershire side

When they said this was the first league Glos derby I was thinking what about the Bristol clubs but I looked it up and the last time it was Glos was the 14th century apparently

Got Isaiah and Drissa starting which is fantastic news so feeling a lot more hopeful.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Good start Cheltenham miss a header in defence and leave Doidge one-on-one. Robins getting some crosses over though so expect they've a goal in them.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

And there it is, five minutes before the half. We've sounded shaky every time it's come and fluffed a few chances to clear our lines.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Sounded like the odd good move from us, two shaky defences and Cheltenham much better for the last twenty minutes of that half.

 

[Stripes]

They're cutting through our defence like butter at times. They will score again, not so sure about us!

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Roberts on for Osbourne doesn't fill me with much confidence either. All them so far this half.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Under the cosh now. Pretty much all Cheltenham since the restart.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Cheltenham had well over twice as many shots, we've barely tested the keeper this half.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

And now just cleared off the line. We're nailed on winners now with some late ridiculousness.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

They've missed an open goal after our m-o-m keeper palmed it to their forward.

 

[spireite]

Cheltenham cost me me 80/1 acca not happy!

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Late head injury added some time then we almost nicked an undeserved late winner with last kick of the game after the free kick restart. Sounded like poor game that Cheltenham had much the better of.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Should've won. And yet another injury to a key player in Eisa, we've had some shite luck this season.