An emotional Steve Cotterill fights back tears after Cheltenham Town confirm EFL safety with a 4-0 win at Walsall.
Cheltenham ran riot in the second half, a dominating performance with goals from Harry Ashfield (56′), Isaac Hutchinson (63′), George Miller (69′) and Josh Martin (90+3′).
The result takes Cheltenham sit 19th in the League Two table, with 46 points from 41 games played, they are also 13 points above the drop zone, but the three points meant they were safe.
At the end of September 2025, Steve was reappointed by Cheltenham as their new manager 23 years after he departed the club. The Cheltenham-born 61 year old came in as replacement for Michael Flynn who was sacked after a 7-1 defeat top Grimsby, with the club bottom of the table at the time with 4 points from the opening 10 games of the season.
🥹 “It means everything” – Cheltenham Town boss Steve Cotterill fighting back the tears after EFL safety secured with emphatic 4-0 win at Walsall #ctfc pic.twitter.com/3wgC7Tmw2U
— Jon Palmer (@JonPalmerSport) April 11, 2026
He said, as per Jon Palmer of Gloucestershire Live, after the game: “What a first half. We played well in the first half. The boys went in and the first couple of chats they were quite agitated a bit, with each other. I said to them, there was no need for them to be agitated with each other. It’s just those finer moments.
“Sometimes you have to give the opposition credit for getting blocks or tackles in, or being in the right position.
“I thought today we were as good in the first half as we were in the second half and yet all the goals came that way. We just needed to be patient, carry on playing the football that I have wanted to bring into the football club from the minute I got here.
“We won’t always play like that, but that was a really, really emphatic performance today. Really, really good. And they are a good team with some good players.
“So let’s not be getting ahead of ourselves or anything like that. They could still get in the play-offs before today’s game, so congratulations to them as well because they’ve had a good season.
On keeping Cheltenham in the EFL: “That makes me really really proud of the club being in the Football League next year. That was huge for me. That was the main reason for me coming back.
“I thought if I come back and I can put everything into it, bringing the staff and players along, maybe that’s what we could do. That was really important to me, not just professionally, but emotionally – the whole lot. I am proud of everyone at the football club.
“The supporters we’ve had, whether at home, or here. All of you guys, who have said nice things and written nice things about us, we are a big team here and it’s like a big family. It’s very much like it was years ago when I was here with the first crew. That dressing room is very, very together. That’s really important.
“I am so pleased for everyone at the football club, but proud of everyone who is connected with it, including you guys.
“You have to come out sometimes and ask me awkward questions, thinking I am going to bite your head off. I don’t think I have bitten your head off yet. I will put the word ‘yet’ in there because I can’t promise myself sometimes that won’t happen! But I won’t mean anything by it.
“A big thanks to you guys as well for how you’ve supported us because I know you are reporters and you have a job to do, but you have always been very supportive, which is much appreciated by myself and the lads.”
Watch more of what he had to say in the full interview below…
Here’s how fans reacted after Steve Cotterill fights back tears as Cheltenham confirm EFL safety with 4-0 win at Walsall…
@1887RedArmy: He’s one of our own 🔴⚪️ #ctfc
@KaiserBCFC_: I was fortunate enough some years ago in Tenerife to see this man in a cafe. I had to go up and tell him his promotion season with us was the best of my life supporting the club. He seemed genuinely pleased and honestly, you’ll struggle to find a more down to earth, decent bloke. I wish him all the success, he deserves it. Lovely to see this Steve 👏 #BristolCity
@SebC__:Cheltenham-born Steve CotterillCheltenham Academy graduateCheltenham senior player in late 1980sCheltenham manager 1997-2002Cheltenham manager 2025-Kept Cheltenham up after taking over when they were bottom of League Two.I love English Football for these storylines
@MattBadweather: Twitter only allows a certain amount of characters per tweet and they’ll never be enough to write how much I love this bloke. My hero, god of the town, man of the people. Stevie fucking Cotterill, that my gaffer ❤️😭 #ctfc
@tobihutch10: Honestly I’d still run through brick walls for this fella. A genuinely good human being 🙏👏
@jasoneaton99: That passion has never left.. well done gaffer 👏
@Hoppo101: No bullshit to say what you want to hear, pure emotion, the bloke is Cheltenham through and through. He is God. What a job he has done. Singing the tractor song with the fans at the end too!!! #ctfc
@cleevecomment: In the fickle world of football, where kissing the badge means nothing… to have a guy who the club means so much to… is frankly a joy! We’re so lucky! Well Done & Thanks Steve… we were down without you! #ctfc
@neilhay3s: You can see the club means everything to him, Jon. He may have gone far and wide over the years, but that’s his club and always will be !
@wayneamoore: So proud of how he has made Cheltenham believe again. World’s apart from previous managers. “He is one of our own”. Absolutely bossed today
@TomJebb8: It’s mad how the littlest things means so much to someone however haven’t Cheltenham been safe for a long time. It’s basically out Harrogate, Barrow, Tranmere, Newport and Crawley.
@George909815795: What a guy Cheltenham through and through looking towards next season with hope onwards and upwards
@QuirkeTh: Genuinely a good guy. Met him when he was at Burnley. 👍
@ianba4: I was by the dugout. He never stopped encouraging and coaching his players. Seems a good bloke, sort of manager we need!
@SMc_1974: He’s a lover not a fighter 😂 Was there ever any doubt that he would guide us to safety with his drive, knowledge, experience & commitment to our club? Not for a second for those of us who’ve seen him play, manage here first time around & go on to a hell of a career! 🔴⚪️
@Deano230: Magnificent job by Steve to turn things around & rescue the season.
@rwells1877: Well done Steve, true talking grafter who has drawn on all those years of knowing his way round a track 🫡Club deserves its success 👏
@gibbo1012: As soon as he was appointed I said to my neighbours etc as I live in Cheltenham he will keep them up they won’t get relegated. From a Swindon Fan 😃⚽️
@antone_chris: Sir Steve – miracle worker
@ankrett_7: Fairplay to you guys. We are shocking. Rebuild needed. Safe travels (Walsall fan)
@munderspi: Thats the Steve Cotterill we love to see …not the bitter and twisted version. Well done Steve.
@dan_etheridge: What a remarkable guy!
@MikeStewart1974: I love him.
