The first meeting of the season against tomorrow’s opponents Cheltenham Town was played on Saturday 29th September at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, in front of a crowd of 3,202. City won 2-0 that day. The deadlock was broken when Craig Alcock put the ball past his own goalkeeper in the 74th minute, before a second goal in as many matches for Shay McCartan extended the lead in the 80th minute, securing all three points for The Imps.
Time for the Q&A! Thank you to Cheltenham Town supporter Craig for answering our questions!
How long have you supported Cheltenham Town?
Since before I can remember, really. I’m 35, so I guess about 30 years since I properly knew what football was!
Where did you finish last season?
17th.
What do you think of your Manager?
I, and most of us, think a lot of Michael Duff as he was already a club legend. As far as I know, he’s still the only player to have played in every league from tier 8 upwards, in order, almost all with us and Burnley. He’s now back for his first management role and has sorted out an almighty mess. We didn’t win at home in the League until November, but we’ve now lost only 1 in the last 19 or 20 games. Whereas you guys took your National League triumph and ran with it, we have stagnated somewhat and had started going backwards again under Gary Johnson. However, we’re now looking up rather than down in League Two for the first time since 2013 and most seem to be expecting a playoff push next season if we can maintain this home form and improve the away, hopefully adding a couple of quality players.
What were your hopes and expectations at the start of the season?
The hopes were generally that we would maybe sneak the playoffs, or at least improve on last season.
One(s) to watch?
Luke Varney (if fit) has really shown that 36-year-olds can still do well in League Two if they look after themselves! He’s having his highest scoring season since 2007. Kevin Dawson is in good form, as is Billy Waters. Both give 100% and never seem to stop running. Generally, the whole team have been playing like a team rather than individuals that don’t know each other in recent months, though, and it’s been harder to pick the best player.
At the start of the season, who did you think would finish in the top 7? And how do you see it finishing?
I thought Oldham and Notts County would do better, but other than that it’s pretty much as I was expecting. I thought Lincoln would do well but I didn’t quite expect you to have an 11 point lead after 41 games! I think it will finish not far off what it is now, but Bury will continue to drop and only just sneak in the playoffs. I HOPE Forest Green screw it up, as do 98% of the rest of Cheltenham fans. Swindon are on a decent run and might squeak in but we’re playing them at home on the penultimate weekend so hopefully, we can ruin that for them, what with them being another local-ish rival!
At the start of the season, who did you think would finish in the bottom two? Has this changed?
Obviously, Notts County is a surprise. I would have gone for Morecambe finally having their time but Jim Bentley continues to squeeze enough out of them to survive. Yeovil and Macclesfield were probably the other two I thought would be down there.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
Impressive. You’ve used the momentum well, got the crowds back and kept them, something we failed to do the season when winning the National League the season before. I hope you go up, stay up and we meet you the season after next. If you don’t continue your rise, that is!
What do you think the score will be?
Our away record still isn’t good and needs to be worked on for next season, and we’re missing Tyrone Barnett who is a good strong option up front…3-1 to Lincoln.
Random fact about your Club?
Erm…CTFC have played at Whaddon Road since 1932, and the actual name of the ground was the Victory Sports Ground, until we started selling the naming rights :/
If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?
Probably Frecklington. We need a player like him. Midfield has been our weakest area all season. Another John Finnigan would be perfect 😉
What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Cheltenham Town Supporter?
Proudest, personally, probably being the first club in 26 years to bounce back to the League at the first attempt in 2015/16, although other promotions run it pretty close. Most embarrassing…several to choose from but probably losing 8-1 at Crewe several years ago.
Who would you say is your most underrated player?
Everyone seems to be getting some love recently, but probably Chris Hussey, purely because he probably should be playing in League One but never wins the man of the match as he’s a left back!
Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?
Yes, the Robins Trust play a big part at the club and there has been a fan-elected director on the board for a few years now.
Which was your favourite match involving Cheltenham Town?
Other than playoff/title winning games, probably the crazy 5-6 win at Burton in 2013. We trailed 2-0, 3-1, 4-2 and 5-3, before goals in the 87th, 91st and a 20-yard volley in the 94th minute won it. We scored all 6 in the second half, and on 83 minutes the score was 4-2.
Which was your least favourite match involving Cheltenham Town?
Defeat to Shrewsbury seeing us relegated in 2015. Shrewsbury won promotion by beating us so we were celebrating on the pitch as relegation was confirmed.
Do you have a Former Players Association at Cheltenham Town?
Yes, it’s only started this season, I believe.
What’s the best thing about Cheltenham?
The football team, of course! I’m sure most people would say the architecture.
How much do you want to stop us from getting promoted?
Not a huge amount, to be honest. I’m not expecting anything from the game and have always felt a sort of similarity between our clubs, especially as we both don’t like that fishy bunch an hour away from you, as we’ve beaten them in playoffs, relegation battles, the NL title race, etc.
Is it fair to say, Luke Varney, despite joining late September/early October is your signing of the season?
Yes, it would be fair. Not only is he having his best scoring season (and most appearances, I believe) since 2007, but he’s been a huge influence on the younger players, sharing his experience and leading by example. However, Chris Hussey has also been very, very good. He’s a good defender and gets forward really well, can beat a man and deliver a good cross. We really missed him when he was suspended and injured for the first couple of months of the season.
It’s weird how these things work out, isn’t it? We watch you win the league in 2015/16, we win the league in 2016/17 at home to Macclesfield, who then win the league themselves in 2017/18 and in 2018/19 you visit us with a chance for us to gain promotion and possibly the league…(fingers crossed!).
Yes! I actually mentioned this on our forum a few weeks ago. It seems to be written.
Do you think you will be Party Poopers on Saturday? If the Imps win will you join in with the party, or leave with 5 minutes to go?
I don’t expect us to get anything on Saturday, but I do expect us to put up a fight. Despite our poor away run (until last match away at Crewe), we have been in games and there’s usually been one silly error that has lost us the game. I remember the day we lifted the National League trophy, some of your fans stayed behind to applaud our team and watch them lift it, something that stayed with me, so it’s only fair the compliment is returned!
How much did Jonny-Rocks pay for the stadium name?
I don’t know, but it wasn’t enough, whatever it was…
Does it get confusing having the name change, my satnav was trying to send me to the LCI Rail stadium?
It’s annoying that it keeps changing every year or two now. The most confusing thing is probably that the guy who runs LCI Rail is now our chairman! Best advice for satnavs, just search for Whaddon Road!
Where has the money gone from selling Mo Eisa last summer? Increased playing budget or paying off debts?
We’ve been told that most of it went into the budget, a considerable amount into paying debts/loans to directors and some of it has been used on trying to correct our awful start to the season. Gary Johnson will always be a legend for getting us back into the League at the first attempt, but some of the players he signed on 2-year contracts last season haven’t even played a game for us and have been out on loan at non-league clubs. We’re apparently due another £200k from Bristol City this summer, but it’s a shame we again couldn’t take full advantage of an opportunity to improve and kick on.
"We're now looking up rather than down in League Two for the first time since 2013."https://t.co/5z9SmdtyOR#ImpsAsOne #CTFC #Cheltenham
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) April 12, 2019
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2140908849278682
