Preview: Leyton Orient (H)

14 February 2020

Cheltenham Town will make history on Saturday by sporting a special all-white kit for the first time in 56 years for the visit of Leyton Orient to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium (kick-off: 3pm).

A joint-initiative with the club's season charity partners, The Hollie Gazzard Trust, will see the club celebrate the life of Hollie Gazzard, who was murdered by her ex-partner in February 2014, while raising awareness of the work the charity set up in Hollie's name do to reduce domestic violence and promote healthy relationships.

The day has been supported by opponents Leyton Orient, who have themselves generously donated £500 to the charity.

Hollie's dad, Nick, was a player for Cheltenham during the 1980s. He made 45 appearances scoring 14 goals before a knee injury curtailed his career. Now the charity which he has founded will take centre stage on Saturday in what is another crucial afternoon for the Robins as they look to follow up Tuesday's fine midweek win at Carlisle United.

Tickets for Saturday's match are available to buy online, while they're also on sale at the turnstiles.

Team news

George Lloyd and Scott Flinders are the only absentees through injury. Chris Clements could return after a recent illness.

Watch Michael Duff's press conference ahead of the game:

Defender Will Boyle has also been speaking to the media ahead of the match.

What's happening on Saturday?

Saturday's match is raising awareness of charity partners The Hollie Gazzard Trust, the great work they do, and to spread the message further to make sure people are safe and are aware of the dangers of knife crime, stalking, domestic abuse and abusive relationships.

For this game only Cheltenham will wear an all-white kit which has the Hollie Gazzard Trust logo emblazoned across the front. Fans can purchase the kit from the club shop.

On Saturday there will be bucket collections taking place, the Robins Trust 1-to-100 tickets will see all profits made donated to the charity, and the club has changed all of its social media GIFs and graphics to reflect the colours of the charity which you'll also be able to see on the big screen inside the stadium.

The big screen will also be showing the charity's campaign videos, while the 1887 Red Army will proudly display a large flag with Hollie's face on in Block 7 of the Colin Farmer Stand ahead of kick-off.

Players from Cheltenham Town Ladies Youth will form a guard of honour for the two teams when they enter the pitch with guests from Rowanfield School also watching the game.

Towards the end of the game fans on Twitter will be selecting a matchworn shirt to be auctioned off in the Robins Nest bar after the match. The auction will take place at 5.30pm.

The remainder of the squad's kits will be auctioned off by club partners AMS Auctions as of Tuesday morning.

The day will end with DJ Shippers playing tunes in the Robins Nest until 9pm for supporters who want to enjoy the rest of a big matchday at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Opposition

Orient have won three of their last five games, including a victory in midweek over Mansfield Town, and they sit sixth in the form table in League Two.

Head Coach Ross Embleton is now in permanent charge after three previous stints as Interim Head Coach. He finally landed the full time role in January after Carl Fletcher's ill-fated short spell in charge.

He leads a side that includes former Swindon Town loanee goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux who is back in English football after a spell playing in Chile.

Their defensive unit includes ex-Cambridge United man Josh Coulson who at 31 is one of the most experienced players and leads the team as captain. Youth product Dan Happe is another who could be involved.

In midfield their January recruitment of Mali international Ousseynou Cissé on a loan transfer from Gillingham has helped to anchor the middle of the pitch.

Others like ex-Motherwell man Craig Clay and former Cheltenham midfielder James Dayton are possibilities in the middle of the pitch, while 18-year-old Hector Kyprianou could be one they look to as well as Josh Wright.

The Robins will have to be on it to defend their lively attack. January signing Danny Johnson is a dangerous finisher, Connor Wilkinson offers a physical presence and Lee Angol was previously part of the set-up at Peterborough United, Mansfield and Lincoln. Former Brighton & Hove Albion youngster Jordan Maguire-Drew is also someone they can turn to up top.

It is Orient's first trip to this part of Gloucestershire since the opening day of the 2016/17 season when they secured a 1-1 draw.

Tickets

Buy tickets online with the ticket office open from midday on Saturday. Tickets are also available on all turnstiles on the day.

Tickets and away travel for the upcoming away match at Colchester United on Saturday 29 February are available, as well as tickets for upcoming home fixtures against Mansfield Town and Northampton Town.

The club shop is open from midday too selling match programmes and merchandise, including the special on the day Hollie Gazzard Trust shirts.

A familiar face returns

Former Robins goalkeeper Shane Higgs will be back at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Saturday as a guest of the club.

Higgs made over 240 appearances in his time at Cheltenham over the course of a decade after starting his career at Bristol Rovers before having a spell in between at Worcester City.

After his success as a Robins 'keeper he transferred to Leeds United before ending his career at Northampton Town.

Higgs will be meeting supporters on Saturday and will be presented to the fans at half time.

Match programme

Saturday's match programme features more on the day's charity partners The Hollie Gazzard Trust.

Chris Hussey is the big interview as the wing back discusses having to adapt his role in the team and the progress his former club Sheffield United have made, having been a part of the start of their resurgence towards the Premier League.

Luke Varney is also on interview in the programme while Alfie May answers the quickfire questions.

Under-18s forward Dan Stevens reveals how he's finding life as a first year scholar at the club, Michael Duff pens his regular notes and Jon Palmer from the Gloucestershire Echo speaks to Hannah Marshall as the Cheltenham Town Ladies player gets set to move abroad to play.

Saturday's match programme is on sale around the stadium for £3 and is also on sale at the club shop and online.

Coverage

Stay up to date by following @CTFCofficial on Twitter for team news, match updates and photos. You can also visit the club's Facebook page for team news and score updates.

Listen to match commentary by tuning in online via iFollow. You can purchase an audio match pass for £2.50.

Post-match visit the club website to read a match report and to see the reaction from the manager.

Highlights will be available to watch on iFollow a few hours after the full time whistle.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 2-1 Leyton Orient

15 February 2020

Apologies, this video is unvailable.

Cheltenham Town scored late to beat Leyton Orient 2-1 on the day the club showed its support to the Hollie Gazzard Trust.

The Robins sported a one-off white shirt at the Jonny-Rocks on Saturday and goals from Alfie May and Reuben Reid cancelled out Conor Wilkinson’s opener.

That was the Robins’ third win in the last four games and meant they kept up their push for a play-off place in League Two.

The game sprung into life on 15 minutes after a slow start, Chris Hussey curled a delicious cross to the far post where Alfie May volleyed just wide from six-yards out.

Leyton Orient opened the scoring minutes later with a freak goal after Owen Evans’ kick flew straight into Wilkinson’s foot and it rebounded into the open net.

But the Robins would not be fazed and seconds later Luke Varney’s deflected shot fell kindly for May, who took a touch before firing low past the ‘keeper to restore parity.

Orient almost re-took the lead on 20 minutes when the ball bobbled to Craig Clay on the edge of the box, whose powerful shot flew just over the bar.

Cheltenham missed two great opportunities to take the lead midway through the first half courtesy of May and Varney.

A poor back-pass from Dan Happe allowed May to run through one-on-one with Vigouroux, who saved with his feet before Varney took over, carrying the ball before striking wide of the right-hand post.

Danny Johnson hit a snapshot from 25-yards that flashed just wide on the half-hour mark as both sides looked to go ahead.

May went close once more before half-time, cutting in from the left and curling a low shot just wide of the far post.

A huge Ben Tozer throw in was inches from putting the hosts ahead, the ‘keeper palmed it away under pressure from Will Boyle before Ousseynou Cisse cleared it off the line.

Michael Duff’s side were putting the pressure on and Ryan Broom flashed an effort across goal and all it needed was a touch but again Cisse was there to clear.

May had the best chance of the half on 74 minutes, Chris Hussey’s cross fell to him at the far post, but after composing himself six-yards out, uncharacteristically scuffed it wide with his weaker left boot.

With ten minutes of normal time remaining, May took aim once more but fired a shot just over from the edge of the area after the ball fell to him from a free-kick.

Boyle was the next to attempt at goal, but yet again it flew over after the centre-back struck Hussey’s full back first-time.

In the 87th minute, Cheltenham took a deserved lead, Ryan Broom put in a teasing cross and substitute Reid’s diving head hit the back of the net to send the Jonny-Rocks into raptures.

CHELTENHAM (3-5-2): Evans, Raglan, Tozer (c), Boyle; Doyle-Hayes, Long (Clements, 65), Sheaf (Nichols 73), Broom, Hussey; Varney (Reid 73), May.

Subs not used: Lovett, Greaves, Debayo, Ince

LEYTON ORIENT (4-3-3-): Vigouroux, Marsh, Happe, Coulson (c), Brophy; Clay, Cisse, Johnson, Dayton (Widdowson 60), Wilkinson (Wright 81), Angol (Maguire-Drew 60).

Subs not used: Sargeant, Judd, Kyprianou, Sweeney.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson

Attendance: 3,527 (439 away)

Ticket News

Tickets: Back the Robins with three home matches in February

5 February 2020

Cheltenham Town face three home matches in just 10 days at the end of this month and the Robins need your support in helping them maintain their challenge for a top seven finish in League Two.

Michael Duff's side take on Leyton Orient (Saturday 15th - 3pm), Mansfield Town (Saturday 22nd - 3pm) and Northampton Town (Tuesday 25th - 7:45pm) in three huge games at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium at the end of February.

The Robins have won all three of their home matches in 2020 so far and you can get right behind them for the next three in a row after away trips to Scunthorpe United and Carlisle United by purchasing your tickets in advance.

Leyton Orient's visit in just short of a fortnight marks a joint-initiative with the club's official charity partners for this season, The Hollie Gazzard Trust.

Cheltenham will be wearing a special one-off kit against the O's that is all white with a purple and pink trim to reflect the colours of the Trust, who work to reduce domestic violence and promote healthy relationships to schools and colleges.

The Hollie Gazzard Trust are also working with club staff and the players over the coming weeks and we will be working together to raise awareness and funds for the fantastic cause.

Supporters can also purchase the unique shirt from our online shop, with very limited numbers left in stock. Profits will be passed to the charity.

A week after sees Mansfield Town visit Gloucestershire, as the Robins look to replicate the emphatic victory that they inflicted on the Stags in December.

The rearranged fixture against fellow high-fliers Northampton Town on Tuesday 25th will then conclude a run of three home matches in 10 days at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Join us and help get the stadium rocking - please note that tickets for Block 7 of the Colin Farmer Stand in the singing section are only available for the Leyton Orient fixture at this moment in time.

Details of the location of the singing section for the Mansfield and Northampton fixtures will be confirmed at a later date.

Ticket News

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