With it being the FA Cup this weekend, it is that time of year where we have a look to see how the Gloucestershire sides have faired in the 152-year-old competition.
Cheltenham Town
We begin with the highest-ranked league side in the county, Cheltenham Town. The Robins’ best-ever FA Cup run came in the 2001/02 season when they reached the fifth round of the tournament.
Cheltenham exited the tournament after losing 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion after a Daniele Dichio goal in the 64th minute.
Ex-Cheltenham and Forest Green striker Julian Alsop made it clear on the FA Cup that: “I don’t think you ever dreamed about winning the league, I think when you’re a kid, it was to win the FA Cup, it was so special and it was a big day.”
Former Cheltenham Town manager Michael Duff started the game that day, with current head of recruitment Russell Milton also making an appearance.
On the duo, Alsop said: “Russ was brilliant for me, because of his crossing ability. My first year at Cheltenham we did not have any wingers, they did not play that way and then the second year the gaffer (Steve Cotterill) got in two wingers.
“Michael was a right-back when I first went there and then he moved to centre-half and then he was colossal.”
The Robins’ run to the fifth round saw them defeat Kettering Town 6-1, the then-named Hinckley United 2-0, Oldham Athletic 2-1 and then in the Championship, Burnley 2-1.
Cheltenham’s most recent run of success in the FA Cup was a visit to the fourth round when they drew Manchester City at home.
Pep Guardiola’s side won 3-1 back in the 2020/21 season after Alfie May put the Robins 1-0 up inside 59 minutes, but a late treble from Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres moved the Cityzens into the fifth round.
Forest Green Rovers
“I promised I would put the strongest team out possible, which is what we are going to do,” Forest Green Rovers boss David Horseman said ahead of his side’s visit to non-league side, Scarborough Athletic.
We then move onto League Two Side, Forest Green Rovers who have had two visits to the third round of the tournament in their 134-year history. However, those two visits were in relatively recent times.
The first of those visits was in the 2008/09 season when they were eventually knocked out by Derby County after losing 4-3 in front of a record attendance for the Rovers.
The Rovers did go 2-0 up after 20 minutes when goals from Jonathan Smith and Alex Lawless put the then National League side ahead.
The Rams then scored a quickfire double with goals from Robert Hulse and Martin Albrechtsen in the 40th minute and the 45th minute respectively.
However, it wasn’t all over for Rovers after a 72nd minute goal from Paul Stonehouse after a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner past Roy Carroll.
Derby then saw goals from Paul Green and Steve Davies to put them into the fourth round.
Former Cheltenham Town man Luke Varney started the game for Derby County on that day in January 2009. Robbie Savage, father of former midfielder, Charlie Savage was an unused substitute for the Rams.
Rovers did also make the third-round of the tournament last season, after a 2-0 win over South Shields in the first, a 2-1 win over Alvechurch in the second and then were eventually knocked out by Birmingham City after a 2-1 loss at home.
In the game against Birmingham last season, Rovers did take the lead after just eight minutes when Ben Stevenson unleashed a rocket into the top-right corner past Neil Etheridge.
Blues then scored two second-half goals with Lukas Jutkiewicz and Kevin Long getting on the scoresheet.
Current player/coach Troy Deeney made a four-minute cameo for the Championship side.
Gloucester City
We finally move into non-league to Gloucester City who are currently in the National League North.
The Tigers’ best-ever FA Cup run was back in the 1989/90 season when they reached the second-round of the tournament.
Gloucester drew Cardiff City in that season and forced the Bluebirds into a replay after a 2-2 draw at Ninian Park.
However, goals from Steve Talboys and Chris Townsend did actually put the Tigers ahead, but Morrys Scott scored a late double in the last five minutes to take the tie back to Meadow Park.
The Tigers then lost 1-0 to Cardiff in the replay at Meadow Park when Scott was the only goal scorer of the game to send the Welsh side into the third round.
Since the turn of the millennium, the furthest that Gloucester City have reached in the FA Cup is the first round.
Gloucester reached the first round in 2012/13 when they were eventually knocked out by Leyton Orient after defeating Thatcham Town, Eastleigh and Chippenham Town in the qualifying rounds.
David Mooney and Dean Cox scored goals in the 87th minute and 88th minute respectively to see the Tigers out of the competition.
Former Forest Green Rovers man, Lloyd James, played a full 90 minutes against Gloucester 11 years ago.
Gloucester did also make the first round the following season after defeating Havant & Waterlooville, Yate Town and Hampton & Richmond Borough before eventually losing to Fleetwood Town 2-0.
Fleetwood took the lead in the 11th minute that day after a David Ball deflected shot resulted in the back of City’s net.
The Cod Army then finished the game with former Forest Green man, Jon Parkin rounding Mike Green and scoring into an empty net in the 84th minute.
