The 2012–13 season was 126th season of Cheltenham Town's existence, and their 13th in the Football League since promotion from the Conference National in 2000. Cheltenham's first game of the 2012–13 season was at home to Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup, before then hosting Dagenham and Redbridge in their first League Two match of the season on 18 August 2012. Cheltenham were in contention for automatic promotion until the final day of the season, but ultimately finished 5th and had to settle for the playoffs, in which they lost 2–0 on aggregate to Northampton Town.