The county of Gloucestershire does not often get related to its football success, it’s usually the horse-racing, the docks and its greenery, however the green and black of Forest Green Rovers, and the red and white of Cheltenham Town are looking to bring silverware success to the South West. Here, we document whether the League Two trophy will make a stop in England’s finest county.
England’s four professional leagues consist of the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. Now it may be at the very bottom of the four but League Two is a tremendously difficult league to succeed in, teams who have Premier League recognition in the past have struggled to get out of the league known for its scrappiness.
But for teams like the Robins and the Rovers, being in League Two is already a success from their stories in Non-League, however, to make that step up to England’s third division would be a truly great story for both teams.
Cheltenham were dramatically close to achieving a place to the third division, where they once were over ten years ago (2006-2009), when they booked a place in the League Two play-offs last year. After a strong display at Sixfields, beating Northampton Town 2-0, a place in League One look set for Michael Duff’s men, however Keith Curle’s Northampton shocked Cheltenham and turned around the second leg winning 3-0 and booking themselves a ticket to Wembley, where they would further go onto more success and earn promotion.
Forest Green, on the other hand, will be chomping at the bit to get into League One, as they have never experienced England’s third division, only recently earning promotion to League Two. In the 2016/17 season, the Green Devils entered a third consecutive play-off campaign after finishing third in the National League. This time they succeeded, after beating Dagenham & Redbridge 3-1 in the semi-finals they then defeated Tranmere Rovers by the same score line at Wembley Stadium in the final earning them promotion to the fourth division. This made Nailsworth the smallest town to host a Football League game.
So, what is at stake in League One?
League One isn’t a league that is covered in glory, but it is definitely starting to make it’s name as a better league. With teams like, Sunderland, Portsmouth, Hull, Ipswich, and many more in the league it is most certainly gaining more of a presence. With these teams come better games, better players and more fans, giving the league an attraction, especially one that Cheltenham and Forest Green can look forward to. When fans are allowed back into grounds, League One will be a terrific experience for the Gloucestershire clubs. With trips to the gigantic Stadium of Light or the classy Fratton Park, away days will be made even better, and with away fans coming down to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium and The Innocent New Lawn Stadium home games will show off a great atmosphere, being both terrific experiences for the players and fans. Also, when you’re in League One, you have the mindset that you are only a good season away from being in one of the best leagues in the world, the Championship.
Plenty of incentives there for both teams to push for a title charge but will both teams make it?
League Two is a very long season playing over 50 games in the year including the Papa John’s Trophy, FA Cup and Carabao Cup all on the side with depth you don’t get like Premier League teams do. The Robins will hope that their brilliant FA Cup run will help bring momentum to the squad following their impressive display in the Fourth Round against Manchester City, although losing 3-1, there was a real fight in the team. If they can keep that fighting spirit and togetherness there’s no reason why they can’t get promoted.
Cheltenham currently sit in third place in League Two, just two points behind leaders Cambridge with two games in hand also. If the Robins can win their games in hand, they can manage to go four points clear at the top of the table, which is a great spot to be in with the closing end of the season just around the corner.
Their latest result was a great comeback 2-1 win away to Walsall with both January signings, Sam Smith and Callum Wright both getting on the scoresheet. With what already was a good team in the league these additions can help fire Cheltenham up the league, when the likes of Alfie May and Andy Williams can’t. With a great squad with now good depth, Michael Duff could easily find his way to a League Two trophy come the end of the season.
And there’s no reason that Mark Cooper’s Forest Green Rovers can’t either. With an exciting young team mixed with some experience again Rovers fans can get excited with the closing end of the season soon. The Green Devils sit in second place in the league table just one point of leaders Cambridge, and like Cheltenham with two games in hand. This could lead to Mark Cooper’s men five points clear at the top with under 20 games left to play.
Rovers’ last result came in a thrilling 4-3 win at home to Oldham, with defender Bailly Cargill scoring two of the goals. Cargill was signed in January and is a quality signing to have in defence, alongside the ever so experienced Chris Stokes who has won two promotions to League One in the last three years. Jordan Moore-Taylor is due to be back soon adding even more experience to the squad, having captained Exeter City to a play-off final three years ago.
With this experience comes brilliant young talent, with the likes of Birmingham City loanee Odin Bailey, Isaac Hutchinson and Aaron Collins who all contribute in attack alongside top scorer Jamille Matt, who has ten goals this season. With goals winning you games, Forest Green may have enough fire power up front to help them with their surge of the League Two title.
So, with all that could we be seeing some silverware locally in Gloucestershire soon?
