With the departure of robins striker Kyle Vassell to San Diego Loyal, two clubs who likely would have never had any link or any idea that the other existed, we’ve decided to take a look at some of the strangest places Cheltenham players have ended up after leaving the club.
JERELL SELLARS - OSTERSUNDS
A summer signing in July of 2017, Jerell Sellars joined Gary Johnson’s side having been released by then Championship side Aston Villa. After two goals in thirty-five games in League Two, Sellars departed Gloucestershire in June 2018 and headed for Scandinavia. Sellars has only matched his League Two goal tally once in Sweden, hitting two in 2021 having only managed one per season in his previous three campaigns in the Allsvenskan. Sellars joined for the season following their famous Europa League run and finished sixth in his first season, however Ostersunds were relegated in 2021 following a sixteenth placed finish.
LEWIS CLAYTON - IFK MORA
Former scholar and Cheltenham local Lewis Clayton was not offered a professional contract at Cheltenham Town and left the club for local side Bishops Cleeve, where the goalkeeper’s former school was based. Clayton wasn’t at Kayte Lane for long as he too headed for Sweden, this time plying his trade at fourth tier side IFK Mora. Just over a thousand miles away from Whaddon Road, Mora have since reached the third tier although without Clayton in goal as he returned to England, joining Cirencester Town with dual registration at Gloucester City before reuniting with former youth team coach Pete Haynes at Evesham United.
ELIOT RICHARDS - TAMPA BAY ROWDIES
Former Bristol Rovers, Exeter City and Tranmere Rovers man Eliot Richards joined Cheltenham Town in February of 2015, reuniting with Tranmere colleague Rob Edwards who had become the robins’ assistant manager. Things took a sad turn in March of 2015 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer but the midfielder came out on top and was given the all clear in September of the same year. Following his release in March 2016, Richards reunited with another former coach, heading to America to work with Stuart Campbell at Tampa Bay Rowdies. Richards didn’t get on the pitch for the North American Soccer League side and now plays for Merthyr Town.
DARRYL DUFFY - SALGAOCAR
Part of the Cheltenham squad that lost to Crewe Alexandra in the 2012 League Two play off final, Duffy fell out of favour in the following season and departed the club in 2013. Frustrated by his lack of playing time, Duffy rejected Cheltenham’s contract offer and headed for India. He scored the winner on his debut, a 1-0 win over Churchill Brothers and went on to score fourteen in twenty-four games, ending the season as the I-League’s joint top scorer. The striker joined Indian Super League side FC Goa on loan in September 2015 before joining Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Football League. Duffy then returned to native Scotland with St Mirren and later Airdrieonians, Stirling Albion and Stranrear.
DANIEL LLOYD-WESTON - AEL KALLONI
Former West Bromwich Albion U18 Daniel Lloyd Weston joined Cheltenham from Port Vale on a free transfer. Following a single season at Whaddon Road, Lloyd-Weston departed for Greek side AEL Kalloni, or Akadimia Podosfairou Lekanopediou Kallonis. The shot stopper returned to England in 2012, representing Leek Town, Market Drayton, Hereford United, Southport, Newcastle Town and finally Gallivare FF in Sweden where he retired.
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