The Game
Argyle v Cheltenham Town. Home Park. Tuesday, 2 September. 7pm. Vertu Trophy.
The Opposition
Cheltenham have had a tough start to 2025/26, as they are yet to win a game in Sky Bet League Two. From their six games, they have suffered five defeats, losing to Cambridge United, Chesterfield, Milton Keynes Dons, Bromley and Barnet, before a 1-1 draw at Salford City on Saturday.
In the Carabao Cup, Cheltenham picked up their only win of the season so far, beating Exeter City 2-0, with goals from former Pilgrims Ryan Broom and James Wilson. Cheltenham then lost to Cardiff City in the next round.
The Gaffer
Michael Flynn has been Cheltenham boss since May 2024. As a player, he represented various sides, including Wigan Athletic, Gillingham and Bradford City. He also had four separate spells at Newport County, where he also took his first steps into management.
His four years in charge at County saw him reach a play-off final, but eventually he resigned, and later took the job at Walsall. After being sacked from that job, he had a spell at Swindon, but left in January 2024, taking over at Cheltenham a few months later.
The Squad
There are three former Pilgrims in the Cheltenham squad.
Luke Young (below) signed for Cheltenham last summer following his release from Wrexham. Whilst at Home Park, Young made 99 appearances across three years for the Greens, most notably winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award for the 2011/12 season. In 2014, he moved across Devon to Torquay United, where he spent two seasons before making the switch to Wrexham in 2018. The midfielder enjoyed a successful spell in Wales, winning successive promotions with the Red Dragons before his release.
Ex-Argyle promotion winner James Wilson started his career at Bristol City, having graduated through the Robins’ academy. After loans with Brentford and Cheltenham Town, the centre-back signed permanently for Oldham Athletic. After two-and-a-half seasons, Wilson joined Sheffield United and spent time on loan at Walsall. Further moves came to Lincoln City and Ipswich Town before arriving at Home Park in June 2021. Two seasons were spent at Argyle, in which he featured 95 times under Steven Schumacher, including during the title-winning campaign of 2022/23. Bristol Rovers came next before a return to Cheltenham, this time permanently, ahead of 2025/26.
Another former Pilgrim among the Robins’ ranks, Ryan Broom has his roots in Bristol, having graduated from Rovers’ academy as a junior. Development loans came with Taunton Town, Bath City, and Eastleigh before joining Cheltenham Town. Two successful seasons were spent at Whaddon Road before the Welshman was picked up by Peterborough United in 2020. Broom was loaned out to Burton Albion and Argyle before he rejoined Cheltenham in 2022. After a season, he would join Fleetwood Town, where he would go on to feature 77 times across two seasons before joining Cheltenham for a third time.
Previous Meetings
The last time Argyle met Cheltenham in this competition was in February 2023, in the semi-final. When the game finished 1-1, it went to a penalty shoot-out, with Argyle prevailing to book a slot at Wembley.
The sides also met in the first round of the Carabao Cup last season, with Argyle winning 3-0.
Argyle TV
Live coverage will begin at 6.50pm, with commentary from Charlie Price and Jamie Lowry.
Match passes to watch this game are available outside the UK & Ireland. Click here to purchase your Argyle TV match pass.
