Steve Cotterill fights back tears after Cheltenham confirm EFL safety with 4-0 win at Walsall

An emotional Steve Cotterill fights again tears after Cheltenham City verify EFL security with a 4-0 win at Walsall.

Cheltenham ran riot within the second half, a dominating efficiency with objectives from Harry Ashfield (56′), Isaac Hutchinson (63′), George Miller (69′) and Josh Martin (90+3′).

The end result takes Cheltenham sit nineteenth within the League Two desk, with 46 factors from 41 video games performed, they’re additionally 13 factors above the drop zone, however the three factors meant they had been secure.

On the finish of September 2025, Steve was reappointed by Cheltenham as their new supervisor 23 years after he departed the membership. The Cheltenham-born 61 12 months outdated got here in as substitute for Michael Flynn who was sacked after a 7-1 defeat high Grimsby, with the membership backside of the desk on the time with 4 factors from the opening 10 video games of the season.

🥹 “It means all the pieces” – Cheltenham City boss Steve Cotterill combating again the tears after EFL security secured with emphatic 4-0 win at Walsall #ctfc pic.twitter.com/3wgC7Tmw2U

— Jon Palmer (@JonPalmerSport) April 11, 2026

He stated, as per Jon Palmer of Gloucestershire Stay, after the sport: “What a primary half. We performed nicely within the first half. The boys went in and the primary couple of chats they had been fairly agitated a bit, with one another. I stated to them, there was no want for them to be agitated with one another. It’s simply these finer moments.

“Typically it’s important to give the opposition credit score for getting blocks or tackles in, or being in the suitable place.

“I assumed as we speak we had been pretty much as good within the first half as we had been within the second half and but all of the objectives got here that approach. We simply wanted to be affected person, stick with it enjoying the soccer that I’ve wished to carry into the soccer membership from the minute I bought right here.

“We received’t at all times play like that, however that was a extremely, actually emphatic efficiency as we speak. Actually, actually good. And they’re a superb workforce with some good gamers.

“So let’s not be getting forward of ourselves or something like that. They might nonetheless get within the play-offs earlier than as we speak’s recreation, so congratulations to them as nicely as a result of they’ve had a superb season.

On maintaining Cheltenham within the EFL: “That makes me actually actually happy with the membership being within the Soccer League subsequent 12 months. That was big for me. That was the primary purpose for me coming again.

“I assumed if I come again and I can put all the pieces into it, bringing the workers and gamers alongside, possibly that’s what we might do. That was actually essential to me, not simply professionally, however emotionally – the whole thing. I’m happy with everybody on the soccer membership.

“The supporters we’ve had, whether or not at dwelling, or right here. All of you guys, who’ve stated good issues and written good issues about us, we’re a giant workforce right here and it’s like a giant household. It’s very very like it was years in the past once I was right here with the primary crew. That dressing room may be very, very collectively. That’s actually essential.

“I’m so happy for everybody on the soccer membership, however happy with everybody who’s related with it, together with you guys.

“It’s a must to come out typically and ask me awkward questions, considering I’m going to chew your head off. I don’t suppose I’ve bitten your head off but. I’ll put the phrase ‘but’ in there as a result of I can’t promise myself typically that received’t occur! However I received’t imply something by it.

“A giant due to you guys as nicely for the way you’ve supported us as a result of I do know you might be reporters and you’ve got a job to do, however you’ve gotten at all times been very supportive, which is way appreciated on my own and the lads.”

Watch extra of what he needed to say within the full interview under…

Right here’s how followers reacted after Steve Cotterill fights again tears as Cheltenham verify EFL security with 4-0 win at Walsall…

@1887RedArmy: He’s one in every of our personal 🔴⚪️ #ctfc

@KaiserBCFC_: I used to be lucky sufficient some years in the past in Tenerife to see this man in a restaurant. I needed to go up and inform him his promotion season with us was the very best of my life supporting the membership. He appeared genuinely happy and actually, you’ll wrestle to discover a extra all the way down to earth, respectable bloke. I want him all of the success, he deserves it. Beautiful to see this Steve 👏 #BristolCity

@SebC__:Cheltenham-born Steve CotterillCheltenham Academy graduateCheltenham senior participant in late 1980sCheltenham supervisor 1997-2002Cheltenham supervisor 2025-Saved Cheltenham up after taking on once they had been backside of League Two.I like English Soccer for these storylines

@MattBadweather: Twitter solely permits a specific amount of characters per tweet and so they’ll by no means be sufficient to write down how a lot I like this bloke. My hero, god of the city, man of the folks. Stevie fucking Cotterill, that my gaffer ❤️😭 #ctfc

@tobihutch10: Actually I’d nonetheless run by means of brick partitions for this fella. A genuinely good human being 🙏👏

@jasoneaton99: That keenness has by no means left.. nicely performed gaffer 👏

@Hoppo101: No bullshit to say what you wish to hear, pure emotion, the bloke is Cheltenham by means of and thru. He’s God. What a job he has performed. Singing the tractor music with the followers on the finish too!!! #ctfc

@cleevecomment: Within the fickle world of soccer, the place kissing the badge means nothing… to have a man who the membership means a lot to… is frankly a pleasure! We’re so fortunate! Effectively Performed & Thanks Steve… we had been down with out you! #ctfc

@neilhay3s: You may see the membership means all the pieces to him, Jon. He could have gone far and huge through the years, however that’s his membership and at all times will likely be !

@wayneamoore: So happy with how he has made Cheltenham consider once more. World’s aside from earlier managers. “He’s one in every of our personal”. Completely bossed as we speak

@TomJebb8: It’s mad how the littlest issues means a lot to somebody nonetheless haven’t Cheltenham been secure for a very long time. It’s mainly out Harrogate, Barrow, Tranmere, Newport and Crawley.

@George909815795: What a man Cheltenham by means of and thru trying in the direction of subsequent season with hope onwards and upwards

@QuirkeTh: Genuinely a superb man. Met him when he was at Burnley. 👍

@ianba4: I used to be by the dugout. He by no means stopped encouraging and training his gamers. Appears a superb bloke, type of supervisor we want!

@SMc_1974: He’s a lover not a fighter 😂 Was there ever any doubt that he would information us to security along with his drive, data, expertise & dedication to our membership? Not for a second for these of us who’ve seen him play, handle right here first time round & go on to a hell of a profession! 🔴⚪️

@Deano230: Magnificent job by Steve to show issues round & rescue the season.

@rwells1877: Effectively performed Steve, true speaking grafter who has drawn on all these years of realizing his approach spherical a monitor 🫡Membership deserves its success 👏

@gibbo1012: As quickly as he was appointed I stated to my neighbours and many others as I dwell in Cheltenham he’ll preserve them up they received’t get relegated. From a Swindon Fan 😃⚽️

@antone_chris: Sir Steve – miracle employee

@ankrett_7: Fairplay to you guys. We’re surprising. Rebuild wanted. Secure travels (Walsall fan)

@munderspi: Thats the Steve Cotterill we like to see …not the bitter and twisted model. Effectively performed Steve.

@dan_etheridge: What a outstanding man!

@MikeStewart1974: I like him.