Popular former Cheltenham Town duo Nick Jordan and Anton Vircavs returned to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium as the club's guests last weekend and both sat down with media intern Joe Cummings to discuss their time with the Robins in the 1980s and the current crop of players flying high in League Two.
Jordan and Vircavs made a happy return to the club on Saturday for the League Two match against Colchester United.
The Robins were held to a 1-1 draw, but the two former players were delighted to return to Whaddon Road where they played in the late 1980’s non-league era.
Vircavs played in the heart of the Cheltenham defence from 1986 till 1993 and was last at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium in 2006 when he was added to the ‘Cheltenham Town FC 50 Greats’ book.
He made a total of 298 appearances scoring 20 goals for the club, competing mainly in the Conference Premier until relegation to the Southern League in 1990/91.
On coming back to Cheltenham for the first time in over a decade, Vircavs said: “It’s a bit peculiar. The A40 from Oxford is a lot busier than it was 30 years ago when I first came.”
“The ground looks great, and it’s great the club has had success because that reflects nicely on us coming back.”
The former defender, who did not think coaching would suit him personally, admitted he did not have the success that the current Robins team are having.
“We weren’t so successful, but my time at the club was forward thinking.” Cheltenham had never played in the Football League during Vircavs’ time at the club.
“When I think back of the chairman, the directors and the people behind the scenes, there was always good quality players coming into the club, there was never a time when we weren’t looking forward.
“For whatever reason at my time at the club, whether that reflects badly on me, there wasn’t the success we would’ve liked. Certainly, we didn’t get the success we did today.”
Cheltenham are fifth in League Two and play Port Vale in the FA Cup on Saturday looking to improve their form having won just one of the last seven matches in all competitions, despite only losing twice in that time.
It is the first time since the 2012/13 that Cheltenham have been fighting for promotion to League Two, and Vircavs thinks it’s great that they have finally managed to make it in the Football League.
“Our time we were trying to be successful, and it was the beginning of what they’ve got now. It’s great.
“It’s a great thing to come back and relive those memories. Due to its location, I think that’s part of it, to attract more players.
It’s great, the fact that it’s unique and you play for it and when you come back people want to talk about it, so it’s great to be part of the history of Cheltenham.”
As oppose to Vircavs, Jordan saw Cheltenham play last season, in the Gloucestershire derby that saw Cheltenham come from two goals down to draw with Forest Green Rovers.
Jordan played in every position, including in goal, but mainly as a winger after joining from Moreton Town in 1983.
In Jordan’s second season at the club, Jordan scored 15 goals as the Robins were crowned Southern League champions.
He has noticed some vast improvements in the team since last season, saying: “The game I saw against Macclesfield, they were 2-0 down against a team that were right down the bottom.
“Against Forest Green they did really well to get into it because Forest Green were the superior team on that day. He (Michael Duff) has turned it round and they’re very strong at home.”
“I love to see the Colin Farmer Stand, because he was a lovely guy and very good with all the players. We had a good board, a family type atmosphere.”
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