Ground Development
The Abbey Business Stadium Whaddon Road has undergone a programme of extensive improvements since the club began rising through the leagues in the late 1990s.
Keeping pace with success on the field meant focusing a massive amount of work, attention and funding towards the ground.
The first major project of the late 1990's was an upgrade of the Speedy Skips Stand. Situated at the Prestbury Road End of the ground, behind one of the goals, it is the 'home end'. Previous to its present format it was a bank of open terracing which was upgraded and covered in the summer of 2000. This area can accommodate up to 1,980 home fans.
The second phase of re-development, completed in November 2001, was the 1,885 seater In2Print Stand. Light and spacious with excellent viewing lines, the In2Print Stand has proved tremendously popular with supporters and is always the first section of the ground to sell out for big games. At a cost of £1million this was the most ambitious of ground development projects undertaken by Cheltenham Town FC to date. Prior to the building of the In2Print Stand, the Wymans Road side of the ground was a covered terraced area which ran the whole length of the pitch. Problems included shallow terrace steps and a multitude of pillars, all of which restricted the spectators view.
The most recent development was completed in December 2005. The 1,100-seater Carlsberg Stand replaced the old part-covered terracing at the Whaddon Road End of The Abbey Business Stadium. The roof line continues round from the In2Print Stand behind the goal and despite numerous problems associated with the very limited access to the site and the close proximity of nearby properties.
Other developments since promotion to the Football League was achieved in 1999 include the construction of new administration offices, sponsorship suite and hospitality boxes; and a new club shop and ticket office building.
The compact nature of The Abbey Business Stadium is suffiicient for the club's needs at the present time and when there is a full house inside the atmosphere is quite intimidating. The playing surface has now gained a notoriety throughout English football, having won several awards since the club entered the Football League.















