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Talbot's players, inside that dressing room, were very downhearted however, "If you get to a Cup Final you want two win, my players in the dressing room are very down in the dumps, but the best team won, second half they dominated and they worked very hard all day, full credit to Cheltenham, Steve Cotterill has done well - all I can say is best of luck to them".
Despite the disappointment, Talbot knows that it's been a very positive season for his side in what was their first season in the Football League, "It's our first season at this level, you must remember that" he proclaimed, he carried on, "we'd have been dreaming at the start of the season if we'd thought about this day, but we are here and yes it is disappointing, but we'd like to lick our wounds and fight another day, which I know we will".
"In all honestly, I think expectations here are too high" said Talbot "I think it would have been a problem if we'd gone up, you have to spend money to remain in the Second Division" he explained, "we have done well this season though, unforunately that's what we look back on tomorrow - I suppose it is my biggest disappointment" Talbot concluded.
Soon after Talbot it was the turn pof the victorious Steve Cotterill. Cotterill arrived in the Conference room with his winners medal still firming around his neck, "I'd better take it off actually" he said, "it'll be nice to look back on though".
Cotterill, born and bred in Cheltenham was grinning from ear to ear like a Cheshire Cat when he questionning that following the Robin's FA Trophy victory four years earlier whether "there's another stadium we're building, we've won at Wembley and the Millennium Stadium now!"
When Cotterill took over the reigns at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham were Dr Marten's League side, now elevation to the Second Division musr be like a dream for the 37-year old, "It's been 5 years, it has been magnificent, but it's the people in the arena who deserve the credit - my players have done well. In all honesty all the players over the five years have played their part" proclaimed Cotterill.
It was mentioned in the match programme that Cotterill's mother, Trish, a lifelong Robins' follower was always in the crowd, "she won't be saying anything, she'll probably be crying" Cotterill said.
Cotterill will not be on a summer spending spree following promotion, he knows his side can't afford to pay out "we are what we are" he said, "we've accepted that we can't spend money, in fact we haven't paid a fee for a player since our promotion to the League" he continued.
A large proportion of the 24,368 crowd had flocked from Gloucestershire, but Cheltenham's home crowds are not so spectacular, "Cheltenham has to realise it has a Football League team, it's too rugby orientated. At the end of the day it's down to the kids, hopefully we can attract the kids and they'll drag their dads along" expressed Cotterill, a man who will hope to see a few more people at Whaddon Road next term.
We at The Little Gazette would like to wish Cheltenham Town all the best of luck in their elevated status next season.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com