Promotion Credentials: Gloucester City

The Tigers are hot on the tails of Merthyr Town in their pursuit of an instant return to the National League North following their relegation in 2023/24. City’s previous stint in the Southern League lasted a whopping, and record-breaking, 70 years. Having entered in 1939, they finally earned their way out in 2009 and will be looking to ensure that their current stay is far, far shorter. 

As of the 20th of December and 19 games played they currently occupy third place, just one point behind AFC Totton in second but eight behind table toppers Merthyr. With 23 games still to play, there’s plenty of time to make up the gap but they’re going to be competing with Totton for the opportunity.

Outside the TigerTurf Stadium

COULD THEY WIN IT?

Gloucester are currently running at an average of 2.05 points per game courtesy of 11 wins, six draws, and two defeats in their opening 19 games. For context, Merthyr are currently bringing in 2.47 points per game while second-place Totton are at 2.35 with two games in hand on both. These averages would see them end the season with the following:

Merthyr Town: 98.8 points

AFC Totton: 94 points

Gloucester City: 82 points

For context, there are 126 points that a club can pick up in a perfect season that sees them win every single one of their 42 games. 

The previous five winners of the Southern League Premier Division South are Chesham United in 2023/24 (who did so on 90 points), Weston-super-Mare (93 points), Taunton Town in 2021/22 (91 points), Weymouth in 2018/19 with a gap due to COVID (86 points), and Hereford in 2017/18 (113 points, yes…really). That leaves them with the following points per game averages:

Chesham United: 2.14 ppg 

Weston-super-Mare: 2.21 ppg

Taunton Town:  2.17 ppg

Weymouth: 2.05 ppg

Hereford: 2.46 ppg (46 games)

Gloucester’s current form would see them challenge for the title in only one of the five seasons with Weymouth sealing the league with the lowest points tally of all. Merthyr’s 2.47 average would see them crowned winners in each of the last five full seasons while Totton’s current form would see them victorious four times. This may mean that City won’t be lifting any Southern League silverware come the end of the campaign as things stand, but the season is by no means over and Mike Cook’s side have already beaten the leaders, one of only two defeats for the favourites. But the league title isn’t the only route back to the National League…

Inside the TigerTurf Stadium

THE PLAY-OFFS

There are of course the play-offs which, based on recent history, bode very well for Gloucester City in their current position. Each of the last five play-off winners won promotion having finished third in the regular season although Met Police may feel a tad hard done by in 2018/19 after they won the Southern League Premier Division South play-offs but were denied promotion after losing to Tonbridge Angels in the “Super Play-off”. You can see below who was involved and how many points were won, you have to feel slightly sorry for King’s Lynn Town who won an incredible 100 points but missed out on promotion before being transferred to the Central Division. 

23/24: Leamington in third, 71 points

22/23: Truro in third, 89 points

21/22: Farnborough in third, 85 points

2018/19: Met Police in third, 78 points but lost to Tonbridge Angels in the Super Play-off

2017/18: Slough Town in third, 99 points. 

At this level there are no neutral venues for play-off finals and the games are always played at the home of the highest-placed team meaning that Gloucester will have home advantage in the semi-final, they will have to play away to seal promotion as it stands, although as you can see above, this hasn’t caused any trouble so far. Finishing third may be a blessing in disguise for City as it will place them as anecdotal favourites for promotion back to the sixth tier. 

Without meaning to rule out a thrilling end to the campaign, the play-offs look to be City's best bet although they are within three wins of top spot. It will take a perfect run of games from the Tigers and faltering form from the leaders, perhaps their best bet will be to finish the season strong, maintain their consistent high standards of performance, and head into the play-offs full of confidence and momentum without letting their heads drop if the title is ruled out.

KEY PLAYERS

Here are two of the players I think will be key in this promotion push, although the nature of an ongoing push means that some of these will be fairly evident and obvious already, and from my limited outsider's point of view.

JOE HANKS

City’s top scorer with 14 goals who also occupies third place, albeit in the league’s top scorers chart rather than club table. Hanks started life at near neighbours Cheltenham Town and is in his fourth spell with the Tigers which has consisted of two loans and two permanent stints with time also spent at Bishops Cleeve and Chippenham Town. His first four years as a full Gloucester City player resulted in 201 appearances and 29 goals with another two spent on loan from Cheltenham before a further 59 league games and 22 league goals were added since his return in 2023. The midfielder appears to be City’s key man and his goals will be key in their push for promotion. 

KEVIN DAWSON

Another former Cheltenham man who has enjoyed multiple spells with the club, Dawson knows how to get promoted via the play-offs and will be a key character in the squad. Dawson has previously played as high as the Championship having won the League One play-offs in 2013. Dawson captained the Tigers in the National League North but headed out on loan to reunite with former manager Gary Johnson at Torquay United in the National League. His return was a bit of a statement in the Southern League and his return has made a real impact. 

Still...inside the TigerTurf Stadium

ELSEWHERE…

The men’s side aren’t the only Gloucester City team chasing promotion, the women’s side currently leads the Regen Arable South West Regional Womens Football League table by nine points after ten games and looks to be destined for a place in the Premier Division next season where they’ll face the likes of Torquay United and Forest Green Rovers. It’s a perfect record so far with ten wins from ten games and a goal difference of +52, 

Could we see both teams promoted in the same season? They both have a solid chance with the women’s side of the club looking a tad more likely than the men’s, but either way, it’s sure to be an exciting start to 2025 at the TigerTurf Stadium.