Some players will go down in club history, the likes of Michael Duff, John Finnigan and Alfie May are unlikely to be forgotten with their impact on the club writing their names into the history books. Some are not like that. Some players are better forgotten and some are just not memorable, although some may be remembered by how little they played. Here are our favourites out of the players that barely played.
BOBBY REID - ONE MINUTE
You have heard of this player, but you may not know he actually played for Cheltenham. Now known as Bobby Decordova-Reid, he would go on as a late substitute in a 3-0 win over Southend in 2011 while on loan from Bristol City. Decordova-Reid would go on to make a name for himself at City, scoring 29 goals in 158 games before signing for rivals Cardiff City as they prepared for their Premier League return. Decordova-Reid would also play 16 times for Jamaica, a career you may not expect from a player with one minute to their name.
ALEX COOPER - FIVE MINUTES
Liverpool youngster Alex Cooper played five minutes for Cheltenham Town in a league game against Accrington Stanley in 2016/17. Cooper was out of contract and signed in time to make his debut at the Wham Stadium which lasted a whole five minutes before injury forced him off. Cooper was named on the bench for the 1-0 Checkatrade Trophy win over Bolton Wanderers and headed back to his native Scotland following his departure. Cooper would later appear for Fresno in the United States, playing in the USLC before plying his trade in Ireland for Sligo Rovers and now for Queen of the South in Scotland.
TOM SMITH - 16 MINUTES
With over three times the match action as Alex Cooper, Tom Smith played 16 minutes in the EFL Cup against Colchester United in 2018. Cheltenham would lose a two goal lead but win the game on penalties and Smith would see his only appearance in red and white result in a missed shootout penalty. Luckily for Smith, Cheltenham went on to win the shootout 8-7 with Luke Norris and Courtney Senior missing their spot kicks. Smith was sent on loan to Bath City where he would play 29 times in the National League South before joining permanently, going on to play 174 times for the romans.
IVAN LUCIC
Surely we’d remember a former Bayern Munich goalkeeper appearing between the sticks for the robins? Austrian shot stopper Ivan Lucic joined Bristol City from the German giants in 2016 and played once for Cheltenham in a pre-season friendly against his parent club ahead of the 2016/17 season due to Gary Johnson’s side not having a senior keeper. Lucic was lobbed nine minutes into the game by Jonathan Kodjia and would concede another to Lee Tomlin before Danny Wright pulled one back. Lee Johnson would claim the Johnson Cup and Lucic would make two appearances for City before being released.
NIALL ROWE - FA TROPHY
Coming in as number five we actually have multiple players, with Niall Rowe, Sam Mendes, James McCarthy and Lewis Thompson all playing their only game for Cheltenham in the 2015/16 FA Trophy while at the club’s academy. It’s not considered a senior game by the club, so they aren’t considered as making the step up from academy to first team, but at the time manager Gary Johnson did say: “[It’s] A great experience anyway representing the first team in a first team competition”. So did they play? Yes. Are they remembered for doing so? Slightly less yes.
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