Cheltenham Town Gear Up for 2026/27 Season with Optimism Under Steve Cotterill

June 11, 2026 – As the summer sun shines over Whaddon Road, Cheltenham Town Football Club is busily preparing for the upcoming 2026/27 Sky Bet League Two campaign following a hard-fought survival in the previous season.

The Robins, who secured their League Two status with a commanding 4-0 victory over Walsall in late April, have entered a period of renewal and consolidation. Manager Steve Cotterill, who returned to the club in September 2025 and steadied the ship, has been instrumental in guiding the team away from the relegation zone. His experience and tactical acumen have been credited with turning around a difficult start to the 2025-26 season under previous manager Michael Flynn.

With the 2025-26 campaign concluded, Cheltenham finished in a respectable mid-to-lower table position, earning 52 points from 46 matches. The highlight of the run-in was undoubtedly that emphatic win at Walsall, which provided breathing space and ensured safety with games to spare. Fans have praised Cotterill for instilling discipline and resilience in a squad that showed character in the closing weeks.

Off the pitch, the club has been proactive in engaging with its loyal supporters. Season tickets for 2026/27 went on sale earlier this month, with cards now ready for collection. The club has also made available any unrenewed seats for new purchasers, aiming to boost home attendances at Whaddon Road next term. Additionally, CTFC Travel Club memberships for away games in the 2026/27 season are now open, with several attractive short trips highlighted, including eight fixtures under 100 miles.

Commercial partnerships continue to strengthen. Jaydee Living has extended its backing as the Back of Shorts sponsor for the new season, providing valuable support to the club’s operations. These developments reflect a stable and forward-looking administration under Chairman David Bloxham.

On the playing side, significant squad changes are expected as pre-season training ramps up. Cheltenham will kick off their preparations with a trip to Slimbridge AFC on July 14, marking Cotterill’s first pre-season back at the club in over two decades. The friendly will give fans an early look at the squad as the manager assesses options and integrates any new signings.

The fixture list for 2026/27, released recently, features six new opponents for the Robins, adding excitement to the campaign. While the full schedule details are still being digested by supporters, the prospect of competitive matches against familiar and fresh rivals has generated positive buzz around Gloucestershire.

Key players from last season, including top scorer Isaac Hutchinson who netted 15 league goals, will be central to ambitions of a stronger showing. The club will look to build on defensive improvements seen towards the end of the last term while addressing attacking consistency.

Cotterill has spoken of his desire to create a competitive, hard-working team capable of pushing higher up the table. “We’ve got a solid foundation now,” he remarked in recent comments. “The players who stayed have shown commitment, and we’ll be adding quality where needed to compete week in, week out.”

Transfer activity remains fluid, with the club monitoring opportunities to refresh the squad. Several players have already departed or been released, creating space for targeted additions as the window progresses.

For the dedicated Cheltenham Town faithful, this summer represents a time of renewed hope. Having navigated a turbulent 2025-26 season, the club appears better equipped for the challenges ahead. With Cotterill at the helm, strong community ties, and proactive commercial moves, the Robins are poised to make a more positive impact in League Two next season.

As season ticket sales continue and pre-season friendlies approach, excitement is building at Whaddon Road. Supporters will be eager to back the team from the first whistle of the 2026/27 opener in mid-August.

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Home of Cheltenham Town FC

Opened 1927

Capacity 7,066

History (from Wikipedia)

The stadium, on the site of what was the Berkeley Hunt kennels, was built by the Cheltenham Original Brewery in 1927 and has been the home of Cheltenham Town since 1932, although it did not host senior football for 67 years. Cheltenham marked their 70th anniversary at the stadium by winning promotion to the Football League Second Division, the third tier of English football, for the first time.
The record attendance is 8,326, at a game versus Reading, FA Cup 1st Round, 17 November 1956. Whaddon Road was the smallest League One stadium in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 season.

Stands[edit]

The ground is made up of 4 stands:

  • Hazlewoods Stand (Whaddon Road) - capacity 1,100. An all-seated stand behind one of the goals, initially named the Carlsberg Stand, it was opened in 2005 and is designated for away fans. For the 2009-10 season it was given to home supporters, but after one season it was returned to away fans.
  • Colin Farmer Stand (Wymans Road) - capacity 2,034. An all-seated stand that runs down one side of the pitch. The stand was opened in November 2001 and is home to the vocal "1887 Red Army" supporters, who are situated in block 7, as well as the Family Section in Block 1. For big games, two sections of the stand are given to away supporters. It was renamed the Colin Farmer Stand at the beginning of the 2016-17 season, in memory of Colin Farmer, a club legend.
  • Speedy Skips Stand (Prestbury Road End) - capacity about 2,100. Given a roof in 2000-01, this is now a covered terrace and is the home standing end.
  • Autovillage Stand (Main Stand) - capacity about 1,800. Built in 1963, it is a mixture of terracing (Tunnel and Paddock enclosures) at the front and seating at the back. The Main Stand runs down one side of the pitch, but is unusual in that it does not stretch the full length of the touchline and does not reach either corner flag. It contains the players dressing rooms, and hospitality, directors' and press boxes.

Things to do in Cheltenham.