In Profile: Cheltenham Town, City's Second Pre-Season Fixture
City have faced the Robins in competitive action just twice, and have won both meetings, scoring eight goals in the process.
After the Foxes' 1-0 win over Scunthorpe on Tuesday, they next head to Cheltenham this weekend for their second game of pre-season.
The manager
Former Burnley defender Michael Duff spent eight years at Cheltenham Town during his playing career, and has also represented Northern Ireland on 24 occasions.
During his time at Cheltenham, he won the FA Trophy, the National League and promotion to League 1 via the play-offs following a victory over Grimsby Town at the Millenium Stadium in May 2006.
Duff’s first senior managerial job came at The Jonny-Rocks Stadium in 2018 after two years as head coach of Burnley’s Under-23s.
Describing his appointment as Cheltenham manager as a ‘fantastic opportunity’, Duff endured a tough first eight games, but recovered well to go seven matches unbeaten in all competitions.
A further 11 victories in League 2 saw Duff steer the Robins to safety, as they finished the 2018/19 campaign in 17th position.
The squad
Cheltenham have this month signed two players following the arrivals of midfielder Rohan Ince and defender Dan Bowry.
In addition, Charlie Raglan, Reuben Reid and Tahvon Campbell have also joined the Robins, as they prepare for their third-straight season in League 2.
Youngster Archie Brennan, meanwhile, will further bolster the Cheltenham midfield after signing his first professional deal having been at the club since the age of nine.
The trophy cabinet
Cheltenham have twice tasted success in the old Fourth Division, now League 2, at the end of the 2001/2002 and 2005/06 campaigns.
More recently, the Robins lifted the Conference National league title in 2016, following an earlier title victory in 1999.
They have also lifted the Southern League title once, in 1985, while finishing as runners-up in 1956, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997.
In 1998, meanwhile, Cheltenham also lifted the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium, after defeating Southport courtesy of a late Jason Eaton strike.
The stadium
Opened in 1927, Cheltenham have called Whaddon Road, now titled the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, their home since 1932.
The four-sided venue, with a mix of seated and standing areas, has a capacity of just over 7,000 and has also been the home of Gloucester City since 2010.
Over its 92 years, the Jonny-Rocks Stadium has staged four international matches, all of them being England youth team fixtures.
City have only made one competitive senior visit to Cheltenham.
Classic encounter
Leicester City ran out as comfortable 4-0 victors over Cheltenham Town at the beginning of their first – and only – campaign in the third tier of English football.
On Saturday 30 August, 2008, following wins over Milton Keynes Dons and Tranmere Rovers, the Foxes headed to Cotswolds under the management of Nigel Pearson.
After just three minutes, Lloyd Dyer put Leicester ahead, before second-half strikes from Matt Oakley, Matty Fryatt and Dyer again made sure of the points.
It was one of 27 league successes for the Foxes that season as Pearson’s men roared to the League 1 title with 96 points and a goal difference of +45.