Steve Cotterill, the celebrated manager of Cheltenham Town Football Club, is set to receive the prestigious Freedom of the Borough at a ceremony scheduled for Monday, May 18, at the Town Hall.
The 61-year-old, born and raised in Cheltenham, earned this distinction following overwhelming community support, with more than 1,000 individuals signing a petition advocating for this highest civic accolade.
Cotterill’s deep roots in the town run strong—he attended local schools Elmfield and Arle Comprehensive before embarking on a distinguished football career. As a centre forward, he played for the Robins, Alvechurch, Burton Albion, and later advanced to the top tiers with Wimbledon, competing in both the old First Division and the Premier League. His playing career also included stints at Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouth.
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Transitioning into management, Cotterill began at Sligo Rovers in Ireland, leading them into the UEFA Intertoto Cup. He returned to Cheltenham Town in 1996 as player/manager, quickly influencing the club’s ascent. Under his guidance, the team secured promotion to the highest level of non-league football in May 1997, followed by an FA Trophy victory at Wembley and achieving their highest-ever league finish as National League runners-up.
In 1998/99, Cotterill led Cheltenham Town to win the National League title, earning promotion to the Football League and marking the arrival of professional football in Gloucestershire for the first time. The club continued its successful trajectory by reaching the play-offs in subsequent seasons and advancing to the third tier after a 3-1 victory over Rushden & Diamonds at the Millennium Stadium. They also made it to the FA Cup last 16 during this period.
After this historic run, Cotterill managed several other clubs, including Burnley, Notts County, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City, and Shrewsbury Town. Celebrating a milestone of 1,000 managerial matches, he returned to Cheltenham Town in September 2025 when the club was struggling at the bottom of League Two.
His immediate impact was undeniable—winning his first match 2-0 and leading the team to secure safety well before the season’s end.
Cotterill was previously honored with an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Gloucestershire in 2000. Now, the Freedom of the Borough recognizes his profound contributions to both Cheltenham Town and the community.
Expressing his gratitude, Cotterill said, “I am extremely proud to receive this prestigious award. It means everything to me and my family. Very few people receive this honour, so I feel privileged and humbled, and I am in great company. I’d like to thank Greg Newcombe and the Robins Trust, who I know started the petition.”
He added, “I really look forward to the night now. It might be an emotional occasion for me, if I have to start speaking! Either way, I will take my award home with me and be very, very proud. It will certainly be cherished.”