Third live league game in store for Robins

» Join the debate and stay up to date by following us on Facebook @Gloslive online » CHELTENHAM Town made their Sky Sports debut in the 1998 FA Trophy final, when Jason Eaton’s 79th minute header secured the first piece of major silverware in the club’s history.

Since then, they have appeared in televised matches during five play-off campaigns, FA Cup ties against Newcastle United, Hereford United, Everton and Manchester City, League Cup ties against Watford and West Ham, an EFL Trophy clash with Bristol City and several National League games in 2015/16.

But they have only been broadcast live in two previous Football League fixtures, the first being the home match against Shrewsbury Town during the Robins’ first campaign in the fourth tier.

A fourth minute goal from Lee Steele earned Shrewsbury the points on Sunday, September 12, 1999.

It was their third defeat in four home matches at the start of their life in the League – but they recovered to make a charge for the play-offs, only to miss out after a 2-1 defeat at Southend United on the final day.

Cheltenham Town (v Shrewsbury): Book, Walker, Howarth, Griffin, Freeman, Banks (Brough 89), Victory, Yates, Howells, Mcauley (Watkins 52), Grayson. Subs not used: Higgs, Bloomer, Jackson.

The following season, Cheltenham visited leaders Chesterfield, who were 16 points clear at the summit.

The match was selected by Sky Sports and moved to a Friday evening (February 9, 2001) but early goals from David Reeves and Rob Edwards after defensive blunders were enough to seal a 2-0 win on a disappointing night for Steve Cotterill’s Robins, who included current manager Michael Duff and goalkeeping coach Steve Book in their XI at Saltergate.

They lost captain Chris Banks to a knee injury after 31 minutes to compound their misery in Derbyshire. Cheltenham Town (v Chesterfield): Book, Walker, Howarth, Duff, Banks (Griffin 31), Yates, Mccann (White 78), Howells, Devaney, Mcauley, Alsop. Subs not used: Higgs, Freeman, Bloomer.

It has therefore been more than two decades since Cheltenham last had the chance to perform live in a regular League Two fixture.

They will be hoping for a more positive outcome as Keith Hill’s Tranmere Rovers visit the Jonnyrocks Stadium on Good Friday (3pm).