With Cheltenham Town taking on Premier League leaders Manchester City in the FA Cup this Saturday, here’s my best combined eleven of players who have faced The Robins in the competition.
I’ll take into account their performance against Cheltenham and their overall career.

Goalkeeper: Shay Given (Newcastle United)
Shay Given is my number one between the sticks for the team. The Republic of Ireland international has had a great career, with over 600 appearances for club and country. Most of his performances came from his time at Newcastle where he recorded 354 appearances and kept a clean sheet in their fourth-round tie against Cheltenham in the 2-0 win.
The trip, back on the Saturday 28th January 2006 to Whaddon Road, now called the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, was the first game Newcastle had played against Cheltenham, and it was a successful one which sent The Baggies into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Defenders: Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Linvoy Primus (Reading), Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines (Everton)
Danny Rose had an easy game when The Robins travelled to White Hart Lane back on Saturday, 7th January 2012, with the Premier League side winning comfortably 3-0. Rose has since remained at Tottenham and has been one of the top full backs in the Premier League.
Linvoy Primus didn’t feature for Reading in either games against Cheltenham when the two sides played each other twice in the third round of the FA Cup on Tuesday, 20th January 1998, however the defender spent many years with Portsmouth in the Premier league, and won it with Harry Redknapp’s side in 2008.
38-year-old Phil Jagielka is currently still competing in the Premier League with Sheffield United, but on Monday 7th January 2013, he was part of the 5-1 win at Whaddon Road against The Robins. Jagielka didn’t keep a clean sheet, after Russell Penn scored for the home side, but has played at the highest level for the majority of his long career.
The last member of the defence is Leighton Baines who was Jagielka’s defensive teammate in the 5-1 victory as well, but as well as defending for The Toffee’s, Baines scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-0 in the first half.
Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Everton), Scott Parker (Newcastle), and Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur)
Belgian international Marouane Fellaini scored late on in the dominating win against The Robins. He currently plays for Chinese side Shandong Luneng Taishan, but Fellaini always had a presence on the pitch, whether it was with Everton or Manchester United.
Current Fulham manager Scott Parker was one of two goal scorers when Newcastle won 2-0 against Cheltenham. Parker, deservingly, spent his career at a variety of Premier Clubs such as Fulham, Tottenham and Chelsea, and even won the UEFA Intertoto Cup the same year after beating The Robins too.
For more Cheltenham Town content, check out writer Tom Coley’s article on how Manchester City have changed since he played against them for Burnley.
English winger Aaron Lennon was part of Spurs’ 3-0 victory against Cheltenham, but even though he didn’t get on the scoresheet in the game, he was a constant danger. The 33 year old currently plays for Kayserispor in Turkey, but won the Football League Cup with Tottenham in 2008 and has spent 18 seasons playing in the Premier League for Leeds, Tottenham, Everton and Burnley.
Forwards: Louis Saha (Fulham), Alan Shearer (Newcastle) and Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)
French international Louis Saha scored twice against Cheltenham in a 2-1 victory for Fulham at Loftus Road on Sunday, 04 January 2004. The two time Premier League and Champions League winner with Manchester United was on fire against the Robins, and deserves his place in my side.
The Premier League’s all time top scorer Alan Shearer was the first name on the team sheet for me. He didn’t score when Newcastle won 2-0 at Whaddon Road, but his accolades and immense record of 260 goals in the Premier League makes him the side’s number nine.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe last forward of the team is current Rangers and former Tottenham striker, Jermain Defoe. He scored the against the Robins in the 3-0 victory at White Hart Lane, and is still going strong for Steven Gerrard’s side with 23 goals in 45 appearances for the Scottish club.
If you think I left anyone out, let us know in the comments or tweet us @ParkLife_Sport for your suggestions.