Cheltenham Town FC

Cheltenham Town were saddened to hear of the recent passing of former player Rob Coldray.

 

Rob was best known for his spell at home club Gloucester City, who he helped win the Southern League Cup in 1955/56, scoring twice in the final, including the extra-time winner, that sunk Yeovil Town.

 

He also spent three seasons with the Robins between 1958 and 1962, operating as a centre forward, an inside left or a centre-half.

 

Rob was educated at Sir Thomas Rich’s and played for Longford before joining Gloucester for the first time in 1954 following his national service.

 

A prolific goal scorer for City, Coldray became the only player to make over 300 appearances and score over 100 goals for the club, later serving City as a manager and director.

 

He finished top scorer in seasons 1956-57 and 1957-58 and his total of 21 in 1958-59 was only bettered by 25 from Mal Morris.

 

Cheltenham Town manager Ron Lewin felt that he had pulled off quite a coup in signing Coldray part-way through the following season and he replaced record signing Matt Carson in the forward line, contributing 15 goals as the team finished fourth in the Southern League Premier Division.

 

A popular player with the fans for his 100 per cent effort despite a long association with the local rivals, Coldray's goals the following season helped the Robins to avoid relegation but his third campaign with the club ended in frustration as his progress was disrupted by injury as the team suffered the drop to Division One.

 

Coldray returned to Gloucester City in the summer of 1962 and spent four more seasons at the club, operating for some of the time in a central defensive role that he had been pressed into during his final months at Whaddon Road.

 

In 1964-65 he became Gloucester City's inaugural player of the season and remained at the club until 1966 when he switched to Cinderford Town.

 

After a spell with Gloucester YMCA in 1967-68 Coldray managed Newent Town at the start of 1968-69 but returned to Gloucester City as reserve team manager following the departure of Peter Goring. At the time he was working as a building-site foreman and also served as trainer under Ian McIntosh when City won promotion in 1969.

 

The following season he was appointed player-coach and made a couple of appearances for the first team before retiring from playing at the end of the campaign.

 

Coldray was appointed manager of City in May 1970 but resigned five months later and went on to manage Stonehouse.

 

Following his retirement from football Coldray was appointed an honorary director of Gloucester City.

 

Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.