With the January transfer window in full flow and five fresh faces already through the door, including FA Youth Cup winning captain Charlie Colkett from Swedish side Ostersunds, we decided to take a look at some of the stranger arrivals who have joined the club from locations that never would previously have been connected to Cheltenham Town.
CONOR THOMAS - ATLETICO DE KOLKATA
The only current player on the list, Conor Thomas came to Gloucestershire from Indian Professional League side ATK in May of 2018. Thomas has since made over one hundred appearance for the robins with a League Two title win to his name. Thomas played twenty times in all competitions for ATK, failing to find the net in his lone season abroad which saw him combine with Robbie Keane to claim an assist.
LIAM DAVIS - GAIS
A unique transfer in the club’s history in terms of fan involvement, Liam Davis joined Gary Johnson’s side in January of 2017 thanks to investment into the club from the Robins Trust. Davis played a key part in Cheltenham’s survival in League Two, playing sixteen times in the relegation battle, securing safety before joining Torquay United in the summer. Davis scored on his debut in Sweden, finding the net against IK Frej, his first of two in eighteen appearances in his sole season at GAIS. Davis was released at the end of the 2016 season and was reunited with former Yeovil boss Gary Johnson.
MATT GOULD - ARMADALE FC
Shot stopper Matt Gould started out at Hawke’s Bay United in New Zealand’s top flight before heading to Australia with National Premier League Western Australia side Armadale FC. The grandson of a former Cheltenham manager, it was almost destiny that Gould would make the move to the robins, which he did in September of 2014. A loan move to Bishops Cleeve followed before representing Livingston, Stenhousemuir, Stourbridge and Spennymoor.
STEVE MARDENBOROUGH - OSTERSUNDS
Cheltenham were one of twenty-five clubs to be represented by Steve Mardenborough in a career that spelled between 1982 and 2003, starting with Coventry City and ending with Barry Town. Mardenborough spent a season at local side Hereford United before heading to Sweden to play for IFK Ostersunds, a club that later merged with Torvalla FF to create former robins’ man Jerell Sellars club Ostersunds FK. Following his season in Sweden, the midfielder headed for Gloucestershire where he played fourteen times for Cheltenham Town, scoring four.
DENNIS ALLEN - VG OOSTENDE
Romford born Dennis Allen served as Cheltenham’s player manager between 1974 and 1979, joining the club from Belgian club Koninklijke Voetbalclub Oostende, also known as VG Oostende. Allen spent one season at Oostende, back in the days of ‘inside forwards’ and joined the robins upon his return to England. Fast forward thirty years and Dennis’ son Martin would be taking to the Whaddon Road dugout, managing the club for the 2008/09 season.
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