Wright's Cheltenham Preview

Callum Wright sat down to speak to Argyle TV on Thursday morning, ahead of Saturday’s game against one of his old clubs, Cheltenham Town.

The interview took place in the Players’ Lounge at Home Park, a room equipped with a smashing view of the Home Park pitch, which at the time was bathed in cold, January sunshine, and being tended to by the club ground staff.

It was noticeable during the interview that Wright’s eyes kept darting to the right, continually glancing at the one-and-a-half acres of turf upon which Callum has the chance play for the first time as an Argyle player, this Saturday.

He has played at Home Park previously; once, for Cheltenham, during his 18-months with the Robins in which he made 54 appearances. On that occasion, in March 2022, Argyle won 2-0, with goals from Niall Ennis and Danny Mayor, in front of 12,274.

The attendance this Saturday, as it has been for virtually every home game this season, will be at least 3,000 higher than that. The pitch that Wright was casting an eye towards so longingly will be surrounded by the Green Army, who have seen their team win 12 of the 13 league games played in PL2 this season.

“I played here last year,” said Callum. “It’s a great place, I can’t wait to get out there.

“I’m expecting a loud crowd, I’m expecting them to get behind the lads, and hopefully we can put on a show for them. It’s exciting.

“It attracted me, how well the team is doing. Hopefully we can keep it up, and the fans can as well.”

Callum’s first week as a Pilgrim, having signed from Blackpool in the first days of January, saw him rack up the miles, as the Greens headed to Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town in Sky Bet League One, either side of a Papa Johns Trophy quarter-final against Bristol Rovers. Argyle won the latter, and drew the former two, and have kept their spot on top of the division.

Wright started the first two of the games in question, and while he admits it is taking a bit of time to get up to speed having not played much football for Blackpool, he says he has settled in well, and that internally the consensus is that the week on the road was a successful one.

“It’s been fluent,” he said. “All the lads have been good. They’re all top; I’ve made a few good mates already, and the staff are so helpful.

“I hadn’t played in a few months; I have to get up to speed with game time. I knew it was going to come, at Bolton or Bristol, and it came straight away. It was a tough game to get thrown into; Bolton are a good side, and had a lot of possession. We dug deep and got a good point.

“Three away games, three tough games, but came out with one win and two draws, so it was a successful week. We’re looking to push on this week.

“The lads are happy, the staff are happy, it’s a good camp right now.”

To Saturday, and how fitting that Callum’s first home minutes could come against his old side. Wright clearly has fond memories of a club with whom he got promoted, and played what would be considered a hugely formative part of the 22-year-old’s career.

“It’s a great little club, Cheltenham,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the lads and some of the staff there, but I can’t wait to play against them.

“I enjoyed every minute of it. The second season was tough in terms of results; we weren’t always winning, as we had gone into the next division, but it was a good time. The lads were good, and you can tell why they are getting success, because it is a great environment to be in.

“We’ve got an aim, and we’ve got to win the game to go on to achieve that aim at the end of the season. We’ll be ruthless, and I’m looking forward to getting our fans on their feet.”