Cheltenham Tigers Football Club has an unfamiliar ring to it, but if the club’s founders have their way it will be a very familiar name in years to come.

They are currently in their first season in the Cheltenham Football League – they’re playing in Division Two – and so far, it’s been very good.

The name Cheltenham Tigers is synonymous with rugby of course – the rugby club were formed in 1889 – but Dan Lawrence, one of the driving forces behind the newly formed football club, said the football section had been welcomed with open arms by everyone at the Newlands.

“It’s been great,” said player/assistant manager Lawrence. “They’ve got a great set-up and a great clubhouse.

“It was a no-brainer for us once we learned they wanted to set up a football club at the Newlands.”

And Lawrence and Darren Twyning, the manager of Cheltenham Tigers FC, had first-hand experience of the facilities on offer because last season they were playing for Leckhampton Rovers Reserves, who played their home games at the Newlands.

A number of those players have joined Twyning and Lawrence at Cheltenham Tigers, but Lawrence is realistic about their targets for 2023/24.

“We want to finish in the top half but the aim this season is just to grow,” said the 29-year-old, who can play anywhere across the back four.

“We’re new, we’re young and we want to play football, but we’ve got quite a few players signed on who haven’t played football before.”

At the time of writing the club had 23 players, which Lawrence said was a “fantastic number”, and if all goes well the club could look to set up a reserve team in years to come.

“We need to establish a structure first,” said Lawrence, who is originally from the Forest of Dean and had a spell with Montpellier before joining Leckhampton.

“It’s definitely something we’d think about but I think we’d want a couple of promotions first.”

Lawrence will have a key role to play on and off the pitch if that is to become a reality, but the one-time Littledean player is certainly enjoying the extra off-the-field responsibility he has taken on.

“I’m really enjoying the coaching side of it,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I have, I’m looking to take some coaching badges at some stage.”

As someone who now plays his football at a rugby club, you could say he’s being converted!