This coming weekend the Cheltenham Town Former Players’ Association will welcome back Brian Hughes and Kevin Willetts, who spent a combined nine years with the Robins between them.
Brian Hughes was a key member of current director and former manager John Murphy’s Southern League championship winning side of 1985 as he capped off a succesfull first season at Whaddon Road with silverware.
Versatile like many players in those days, the midfielder/right-back helped the club establish itself in the Conference in his four year spell in Gloucestershire.
In that first campaign, the former Torquay United man scored 27 goals and won the Player of the Year award, also helping the club reach the Southern League cup final.
Over the next three seasons, Hughes eventually moved to full-back but remained a mainstay in the team and made 226 appearances in four years with Cheltenham, moving to Gloucester City for a small fee in 1988 after netting 56 times at Whaddon Road.
Joining in 1985 and spending three seasons alongside Hughes – Kevin Willetts was another player who started in midfield but eventually moved on to become one of the best left-backs in non-league with eight years spent at Cheltenham.
Eventually joining from Sharpness and lower down the pyramid, consistent performer Willetts won three awards including the Players and Supporters Player of the Year in separate campaigns.
Regularly featuring on the left side of defence for over six seasons at Cheltenham, Willetts made 367 appearances for the Robins – scoring 45 goals – leaving the club on loan to Forest Green Rovers in 1993 before making the move permanent.
Please welcome both long-serving former Robins back on Saturday as Michael Duff’s current crop take on Notts County at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, buy your tickets here.