Tozer on verge of ever-present season record

BEN Tozer will have only one thing on his mind during Cheltenham Town’s home match against Harrogate Town on Saturday.

A win on the final day of the 2020/21 campaign guarantees Michael Duff ’s side top spot in League Two and their first title as a Football League club.

As captain Tozer would be the one to hoist the trophy aloft for what would be a career highlight for the former Swindon Town, Newcastle United, Northampton Town, Yeovil Town and Newport County man.

Tozer is also on the verge of becoming only the second outfield player to complete every minute of a Football League campaign for the Robins.

Left-back Jamie Victory achieved the feat in 1999/00, the club’s first as a fully professional outfit.

Mark Yates (1999/00), David Bird (2007/08), Steve Elliott (2012/13) and Matt Richards (2013/14) are the other outfield players to make 46 starts from 46 for Cheltenham in the Football League, but they were all substituted at least once.

Goalkeepers Steve Book and Shane Higgs (twice each), Scott Brown (three times), Trevor Carson and Scott Flinders have all enjoyed ever-present seasons for the club.

Central defender Daniel Parslow played every minute of the 2015/16 National League title-winning season, with midfielder Kyle Storer also starting all 46.

Damian Spencer (2005/06) and Billy Waters (2016/17) both appeared in all 46 matches, but made 17 and 41 starts respectively, while Victory made 45 starts and one substitute appearance in 2001/02.