# 2023–24 Cheltenham Town F.C. season

The 2023–24 season was the 137th season in the history of Cheltenham Town and their third consecutive season in League One. The club participated in League One, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

## Current squad

    As of 16 March 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Luke Southwood | GK | Oxford | (1997-12-06) 6 December 1997 (age 27) | Reading | 11 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 21 | Jamie Pardington | GK | | (2000-07-20) 20 July 2000 (age 24) | Larne | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 31 | Jude Franks | GK | | | Academy | 5 September 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Sean Long | RB | Dublin | (1995-05-02) 2 May 1995 (age 29) | Lincoln City | 1 July 2018 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 3 | Ben Williams | LB | Preston | (1999-03-31) 31 March 1999 (age 25) | Barnsley | 5 January 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 4 | Tom Bradbury | CB | Aylesbury | (1998-02-27) 27 February 1998 (age 26) | FC Halifax Town | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 5 | Andy Smith | CB | Banbury | (2001-09-11) 11 September 2001 (age 23) | Hull City | 24 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 6 | Lewis Freestone | CB | King's Lynn | (1999-10-26) 26 October 1999 (age 25) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 August 2020 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 14 | Jack Shepherd | CB | | (2001-03-06) 6 March 2001 (age 23) | Barnsley | 1 February 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 24 | Grant Horton | CB | Colchester | (2001-09-13) 13 September 2001 (age 23) | Academy | 5 August 2020 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 33 | Curtis Davies | CB | Leytonstone | (1985-03-15) 15 March 1985 (age 39) | Derby County | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 40 | Cameron Walters | CB | | (2006-10-09) 9 October 2006 (age 18) | Academy | 6 November 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 7 | Liam Kinsella | DM | Colchester | (1996-02-23) 23 February 1996 (age 28) | Swindon Town | 24 January 2024 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 8 | Liam Sercombe | CM | Exeter | (1990-04-25) 25 April 1990 (age 34) | Bristol Rovers | 4 August 2020 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 15 | Will Ferry | LM | Bury | (2000-12-07) 7 December 2000 (age 24) | Southampton | 9 August 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 17 | James Olayinka | CM | Lambeth | (2000-10-05) 5 October 2000 (age 24) | Arsenal | 1 September 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 23 | Elliot Bonds | CM | Brent | (2000-03-23) 23 March 2000 (age 24) | Hull City | 1 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 25 | Josh Harrop | AM | Stockport | (1995-12-15) 15 December 1995 (age 29) | Northampton Town | 22 January 2024 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 29 | Tom King | CM | | (2006-09-20) 20 September 2006 (age 18) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2026 |
| 30 | Freddy Willcox | CM | | (2005-12-11) 11 December 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 5 September 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 32 | Greg Sloggett | CM | Gormanston | (1996-07-03) 3 July 1996 (age 28) | Dundalk | 2 February 2024 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 34 | Tom Pett | CM | Potters Bar | (1991-12-03) 3 December 1991 (age 33) | Port Vale | 2 November 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 35 | Brandon Liggett | CM | | (2006-06-06) 6 June 2006 (age 18) | Academy | 6 November 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Matty Taylor | CF | Kidlington | (1990-03-30) 30 March 1990 (age 34) | Forest Green Rovers | 1 February 2024 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 10 | Aidan Keena | CF | Mullingar | (1999-04-25) 25 April 1999 (age 25) | Sligo Rovers | 29 January 2023 | £80,000 | 30 June 2026 |
| 11 | Rob Street | CF | Oxford | (2001-09-26) 26 September 2001 (age 23) | Crystal Palace | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 19 | George Lloyd | CF | Gloucester | (2000-02-11) 11 February 2000 (age 25) | Academy | 1 July 2018 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 26 | Joe Nuttall | CF | Bury | (1997-01-27) 27 January 1997 (age 28) | Oldham Athletic | 1 February 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 27 | Jordan Thomas | CF | | (2001-05-02) 2 May 2001 (age 23) | Bath City | 1 February 2024 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2026 |
| 39 | Sopuruchukwu Obieri | CF | | | Academy | 6 November 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 16 | Daniel Adshead | CM | Manchester | (2001-09-02) 2 September 2001 (age 23) | Norwich City | 1 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 20 | Max Harris | GK | Gloucester | (1999-09-14) 14 September 1999 (age 25) | Oxford United | 3 September 2020 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 22 | Liam Smith | RB | Dalgety Bay | (1996-04-10) 10 April 1996 (age 28) | Dundee United | 20 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 28 | Adulai Sambu | RB | Lisbon | (2004-06-28) 28 June 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Curtis Davies | Derby County | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | GK | Jamie Pardington | Larne | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CF | Rob Street | Crystal Palace | Free Transfer |
| 11 July 2023 | GK | Luke Southwood | Reading | Free Transfer |
| 20 July 2023 | RB | Liam Smith | Dundee United | Free Transfer |
| 3 August 2023 | CM | Curtis Thompson | Wycombe Wanderers | Free Transfer |
| 2 November 2023 | CM | Tom Pett | Free agent | — |
| 22 January 2024 | AM | Josh Harrop | Free agent | — |
| 24 January 2024 | DM | Liam Kinsella | Swindon Town | Free Transfer |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Matty Taylor | Forest Green Rovers | Free Transfer |
| 1 February 2024 | RW | Jordan Thomas | Bath City | Undisclosed |
| 2 February 2024 | CM | Gregory Sloggett | Dundalk | Free Transfer |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 16 May 2023 | LB | Reece Hutchinson | Sligo Rovers | Undisclosed |
| 30 June 2023 | DM | Dylan Barkers | Hereford | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RM | Ryan Broom | Fleetwood Town | Free Transfer |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Charlie Brown | Morecambe | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Callum Ebanks | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Zac Guinan | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Ryan Jackson | Sutton United | Rejected Contract |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Shaun MacDonald | Exeter City | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Christian Norton | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Charlie Raglan | Oldham Athletic | Mutual Consent |
| 7 July 2023 | CF | Alfie May | Charlton Athletic | Undisclosed |
| 19 January 2024 | CF | Will Goodwin | Oxford United | Undisclosed |
| 1 February 2024 | CM | Curtis Thompson | Grimsby Town | Free Transfer |
| 14 February 2024 | CB | Grant Horton | Waterford | Free Transfer |
| 15 February 2024 | CM | Ellis Chapman | Sligo Rovers | Free Transfer |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Until |
| 1 August 2023 | CM | Oliver Hammond | Nottingham Forest | 2 January 2024 |
| 18 August 2023 | RB | Luciano D'Auria-Henry | Fulham | 2 January 2024 |
| 25 August 2023 | CB | Owen Bevan | Bournemouth | 2 January 2024 |
| 29 August 2023 | AM | Cameron Peupion | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 January 2024 |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Nathan Butler-Oyedeji | Arsenal | 1 February 2024 |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Jovan Malcolm | West Bromwich Albion | 2 January 2024 |
| 1 September 2023 | RB | Josh Williams | Birmingham City | 1 January 2024 |
| 24 January 2024 | CB | Andy Smith | Hull City | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Joe Nuttall | Oldham Athletic | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | CB | Jack Shepherd | Barnsley | End of Season |
* ↑ On 2 January, Hammond returned back to Nottingham Forest early.
* ↑ On 2 January, D'Auria-Henry returned back to Fulham early.
* ↑ On 2 January, Bevan returned back to Bournemouth early due to injury.
* ↑ On 2 January, Peupion returned back to Brighton early.
* ↑ On 1 February, Butler-Oyedeji returned back to Arsenal early.
* ↑ On 2 January, Malcolm returned back to West Bromwich Albion early.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 18 August 2023 | GK | Jamie Pardington | Truro City | 15 September 2023 |
| 12 September 2023 | RB | Adulai Sambu | Hungerford Town | End of Season |
| 1 December 2023 | GK | Max Harris | Weston-super-Mare | End of Season |
| 16 December 2023 | CM | Daniel Adshead | AFC Fylde | End of Season |
| 1 January 2024 | CM | Ellis Chapman | Sligo Rovers | 15 February 2024 |
| 1 February 2024 | RB | Liam Smith | Grimsby Town | End of Season |
* ↑ On 4 December, Sambu's loan at Hungerford was extended until the end of the season.
* ↑ On 30 January, Adshead's loan at Fylde was extended until the end of season.
* ↑ On 15 February, Chapman's loan at Sligo ended early and joined then permanently.

## Pre-season and friendlies

On 19 May, Cheltenham Town announced their first batch of pre-season friendlies, against Evesham United, Swindon Supermarine, Weston-super-Mare and Bristol City. A fifth friendly fixture was later added, against Birmingham City. The club announced a sixth friendly on June 12, against West Bromwich Albion.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League One | Matchday 1 | 21st | 46 | 12 | 8 | 26 | 41 | 65 | −24 | 026.09 |
| FA Cup | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 000.00 |
| EFL Cup | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 000.00 |
| EFL Trophy | Group stage | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | −9 | 000.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | 51 | 12 | 8 | 31 | 43 | 82 | −39 | 023.53 |
Last updated: 29 April 2024 Source: Soccerway

### League One
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 18 | Cambridge United | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 39 | 61 | −22 | 48 | |
| 19 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 35 | 67 | −32 | 48 | |
| 20 | Burton Albion | 46 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 39 | 67 | −28 | 46 | |
| 21 | Cheltenham Town (R) | 46 | 12 | 8 | 26 | 41 | 65 | −24 | 44 | Relegated to EFL League Two |
| 22 | Fleetwood Town (R) | 46 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 49 | 72 | −23 | 43 | Relegated to EFL League Two |
| 23 | Port Vale (R) | 46 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 41 | 74 | −33 | 41 | Relegated to EFL League Two |
| 24 | Carlisle United (R) | 46 | 7 | 9 | 30 | 41 | 81 | −40 | 30 | Relegated to EFL League Two |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 29 April 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7$^1$ | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28$^4$ | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 13$^2$ | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 29$^5$ | 44 | 18$^3$ | 45 | 40$^6$ | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | L | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | D | W | L | W | D | W | L | D | L | W | W | D | L | W | L | L | L | W | W | W | D | L | D | L | L | D | W | L | L | L | L | W | L | W | L |
| Position | 15 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
* $^1$ Matchday 7 (vs Peterborough United) was postponed due to the international call-ups.
* $^2$ Matchday 13 (vs Wycombe Wanderers) was postponed due to the international call-ups.
* $^3$ Matchday 18 (vs Burton Albion) was postponed due to the international call-ups.
* $^4$ Matchday 28 (vs Bolton Wanderers) was abandoned due to a medical emergency in the crowd.
* $^5$ Matchday 29 (vs Carlisle United) was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
* $^6$ Matchday 40 (vs Peterborough United) was postponed due to the international call-ups.

#### Matches

On 22 June, the EFL League One fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

#### Abandoned match with Bolton Wanderers

On 13 January 2024, during the away at home against Bolton Wanderers, Iain Purslow, a spectator supporting Bolton suffered a cardiac arrest. The match was suspended in the 29th minute resulting in the players leaving the pitch. The match was abandoned 30 minutes later. It was subsequently confirmed that Purslow died later in hospital. On 15 January 2024, it was announced the match would be replayed in full on 23 January 2024. This necessitated rearranging the Burton Albion v Cheltenham fixture, originally scheduled for 23 January 2024.

### FA Cup

Town were drawn away to AFC Wimbledon in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Cheltenham were drawn at home to Birmingham City in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

In the group stage, Cheltenham Town were drawn into Southern Group H alongside Newport County, Bristol Rovers and West Ham United U21.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | ACA | West Ham United U21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 9 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Newport County | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | L1 | Cheltenham Town | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | −9 | 0 | |
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures