Cleal aiming to get Cinderford Town into better position and targets Southern League return

Newly appointed Cinderford Town Manager Stephen Cleal says he is looking to get the Foresters into a better position for a potential return to the Southern League in the next couple of seasons.

Cleal rejoined the club at the back end of 2025 to assist then manager, Matt Driscoll, and after the Welshman resigned to take up an opportunity with Pontypridd United, the former Bishops Cleeve boss was appointed Manager for a second spell.

Speaking to Severn Sport for Saturday’s Buttee’s For Breakfast show, Cleal admitted it was a decision he had to make sure was right for him and reiterated the importance of the football club being united in order try and be sustainable in their quest for Southern League football.

“I said before [on the breakfast show] the right project would excite me and I think it looked quite good and I thought I’d go in with no pressure, enjoy it and get to know a few of the lads and just help them out wherever I could.

But to now be back managing a football club of the size of Cinderford Town is a huge honour and I think I had maybe a little bit of unfinished business from what happened last time I was here.

Obviously I chatted with my wife and family and discussed a few things with them, but I think the club had to be different to the one that I’d left and it definitely is.

I think that the drive behind it, all the committee, all of the supporters they’re all trying to point in the one direction and that’s to get progression – but the right way, they don’t want to do it overnight they want to do it so they can sustain it.

Obviously two years ago they were very successful in winning the playoffs and Drisc [Matt Driscoll] took him up and then obviously the year before they didn’t have such a good time in the Southern League – but I think you know when we do get promoted again I think the club would be in a definitely a better position to to make a fist of it and then look to progress even further,” said Cleal.

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It has been an exciting last six weeks or so for Cinderford Town, with the introduction of new players like Jack Watts, Tom Chamberlain and Harry Leeson and the Foresters have produced a stunning run of four wins in their last league matches, with a draw at Tuffley Rovers the only occasion since Christmas where the Foresters have dropped points and whilst the play-offs are mathematically possible for Cinderford, Cleal says the important thing is to build a squad capable of progressing the football club on.

“[when asked if the recent run could have gone any better] You’re absolutely right. Tuffley is a very difficult place to go and we rode our luck a little bit in the second half and conceded in the 89th minute. So it could have looked five wins out of five.

But take nothing away from the lads, the boys have bought into what I’m trying to do. Obviously, adding a few new players into the group that know a little bit about me as well.

So it’s just nice to get a group of lads playing in the right way and making sure we’re progressing, you know, like I said it’s not going to happen overnight but to get 13 points out of 15 from the last five games is absolutely fantastic.” said Cleal.

“When you look at the fixtures, away at Droitwich away at Mangotsfield away at Tuffley and I think the biggest thing for me and the most pleasing one for me is to get the win at home in front of our home fans, because you know it’s been a long time coming- so at the moment it’s going well but I’m not naïve, I’ve managed enough football and seen enough things to know that you know it can quite easily turn the other way, so it’s about working hard, maintaining the standards and keep on pushing forward,” Cleal added.

The most eye-catching addition at Cinderford Town has been the signing of forward Jack Watts from Bishops Cleeve. Watts is a proven goal scorer at Hellenic League level and has netted six times in his first four appearances for Cinderford and linked up once again with a Manager who has managed him at a number of clubs and Cleal expressed his delight at once again having Watts in his squad.

“The Wattsy thing always makes me laugh, because everyone always mentions Jack whenever they talk to me. But if you look at every club I’ve been at bar Cinderford the first time, then Jack Watts has played for me.

Jack is just one of those players that I’ve got a great relationship with on and off the field and if ever I’m in a position where I feel he can help the football club and he wants to come along, he’s one of the first phone calls I make because like I said we’ve got that relationship and when you need to get a proven goal scorer like him at this level and above it’s always going to happen – so it wasn’t too much of a hard sell for Jack.

Jack also wants to try and get into the coaching side of things as well and again, he’s got that trust with me to know that I’ve given him the opportunity to do that,” Cleal siad.

Cinderford are scheduled to host Royal Wootton Bassett Town this weekend, however the wet and windy forecast for the next 72 hours could see another game fall victim to the weather.

During the week, Cinderford’s County Cup tie against Cheltenham Saracens was postponed for the fourth time due to the weather and subsequently the Foresters have withdrawn from the competition – something Cleal provides us more detail about on this weekend’s show.

Listen to the full interview with Stephen Cleal on Buttee’s For Breakfast this Saturday morning, live from 9am

Photo courtesy of Cinderford Town AFC