Cheltenham Town have had a busy winter transfer period after signing Indiana Vassilev from Aston Villa, Leicester City’s Callum Wright and Sam Smith from Championship side Reading.
The Robins have made some good signing’s mid way through seasons, and here’s my top 5 winter transfer window signing’s ever made by the club.
Jack Butland
England goalkeeper Jack Butland joined Cheltenham Town on loan from Birmingham City in September 2011, but then later returned on loan again in February of 2012.
The 18-year-old impressed on both loan spells at his time with The Robins, and only conceded 26 goals from 24 League Two appearances, with the Daily Telegraph revealing he had at one point, “no fewer than 52 scouts” watching him at one match.
Butland was consistently outstanding in goal for Mark Yates’ Cheltenham Town, and helped them reach the League Two play off finals against Crewe Alexandra in May 2012.
Unfortunately, Butland had already been called back by Birmingham and didn’t feature in the 2-0 loss at Wembley.
Jerry Gill
Free agent Jerry Gill joined Cheltenham Town on 25th February 2004 on a non-contract basis until the end of the season, however the then 34-year-old played over 180 matches in four seasons with The Robins.
Gill helped the club win the 2006/07 League Two play-off’s final against Grimsby Town, but throughout his time at Cheltenham he was an important deputy for club captain John Finnigan if the midfielder was out injured.
He didn’t score once with Cheltenham Town, but his excellent last ditch defending and overall impressive consistent performances means he’s one of the best transfers the club have made ever.
Steven Gillespie
The former Liverpool youth striker Steven Gillespie is still Cheltenham Town’s biggest sale of any player in the club’s history.
After joining The Robins on a free transfer from Bristol City, Gillespie made 71 appearances and scored 21 goals, but the sale of £400,000 to Colchester United put’s him on my list.
In the 2007/08 League, the then 22-year-old scored 14 times during his best season with The Robins. Ultimately the record breaker of Robbie Fowler’s goal scoring record at Liverpool Schools never reached the expectations, but for Cheltenham, he was a great signing financially.
Jermaine McGlashan
London born Jermaine McGlashan decided to join Cheltenham, after a close battle with League Two rivals Gillingham to sign the player, from Aldershot Town in 2012.
McGlashan went on to appear 116 times for The Robins, but despite only scoring 13 goals, he was one of the most exciting players I’ve seen at Whaddon Road.
His transfer fee of £50,000 is the the clubs joint top transfer fee for a player, and, like Jack Butland, played a vital role in the clubs journey to Wembley in the 2012 play off final loss to Crewe Alexandra.
McGlashan was one of the fastest players to play for Cheltenham and his electrifying speed was a joy to watch during his time at the club.
Grant McCann
Grant McCann joined Cheltenham for £50,000 in January 2003 after failing to break through into the West Ham United first team. He’d been on loan a couple times before the permanent move.
Along with McGlashan, McCann is the club’s most expensive signing for a player, but the Northern Ireland international was a good player for The Robins after playing nearly 200 times for them.
Alongside Gill, McCann helped Cheltenham leave League Two after playing the whole match in the sides victory at the Millennium Stadium.
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