Former Cheltenham Town legend John Finnigan has praised his old sides record breaking achievement of winning League Two for the first time in the history of the club.
Finnigan played over 200 matches for The Robins, but deemed the current team as the best ball-playing side ever since the club was founded 134 years ago.
“It’s been fantastic,” smiled Finnigan, who has recently left his role as commercial manager for Cheltenham.
“I think even include last season in that as well. Some of the football that’s been on display for the fans particularly was brilliant. Great stylish football on show, and probably the best we’ve seen at Whaddon Road in possibly ever.”
Whaddon Road, now called The Jonny-Rocks Stadium, has seen some great results during the 2020/21 campaign. It hosted Cheltenham’s famous Fa Cup Fourth Round tie against newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester City, which saw manager Michael Duff’s side fight admirably in a 3-1 loss.
“Every time we have these seasons at Cheltenham, there always seems to be a good FA Cup story to go along with the promotion. The FA Cup run against Manchester City; then back in 2002 with Steve Cotterill’s side they got to the fifth round and played West Brom, gave them a tough game and lost 1-0, but went onto achieve promotion,” recalled Finnigan.
“In 2006 it was Newcastle in the fourth round of the FA Cup and then Sunderland in the Carling Cup the same season. These cup ties often spur the team onto really believe they can achieve things, as we’ve seen from this year.”
The former Lincoln City and Nottingham Forest midfielder was promoted through the play-offs twice with Cheltenham, to the third tier of English football. The first a 3-1 win over Rushden & Diamonds in 2002, where Finnigan scored the third, and in 2006 which saw him captain the side to a 1-0 win against Grimsby Town.
Finnigan also believes Duff deserves a lot of praise for his part in the successful season, which saw The Robins achieve automatic promotion for the first time.
“Credit to the players and Michael Duff for implementing that with a team on a budget,” said the 45-year-old.
“The job he’s done is unbelievable-second to none. No one could’ve ever expected it.
“I mean when he came in the club were battling to stay in the league and within two years he’s kept us up, taken us to a play off campaign, which in all honesty might of been an automatic promotion if it wasn’t for the pandemic, to a title win which has been the icing on the cake,” said Finnigan.
The former Robins captain went on to say how he believes the Northern Irishman can go all the way in his managerial career.
“Everything he’s aimed to do since he’s come in, he’s done and probably done it earlier than a lot of people would’ve expected. He can go on an achieve anything. He’s played at the highest level, and I’m sure he’ll want to manage at the highest level.”
Duff, a former Cheltenham player too, saw his side win 24 games in the league, losing only 12.
