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| Full name | Forest Green Rovers Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Rovers The Green FGR The Little Club On The Hill The Nails The Lawnmowers |
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| Founded | 1890 (as Nailsworth & Forest Green) | ||
| Ground | The New Lawn Nailsworth, Stroud (Capacity: 5,147) |
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| Chairman |  Trevor Horsley |
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| Manager | Dave Hockaday |
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| League | Conference National | ||
| 2008–09 | Conference National, 18th | ||
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Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football team based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire. They play in the Conference National the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system.
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History
The club was founded in 1890 as Nailsworth & Forest Green and joined the Stroud & District League where they remained for the first 32 years of their existence. They were founder members of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League in 1922 which they were to win three times in 1935, 1950 and 1951.
In 1968 they were founder members of the Gloucestershire County League where they remained for seven seasons with an average finishing position of 6th. They joined the Hellenic League in 1975. The 1981–82 season saw the club win the Hellenic League championship and the FA Vase under manager Bob Mersell. They moved upwards into the Southern League where they finished third in their maiden season in the Midland Division. However in subsequent seasons they failed to make much impact, and in 1989 the club changed its name to Stroud F.C.. This highly opposed move failed to improve the club's fortune and the name was changed back to Forest Green Rovers for the 1992–93 season.
Under manager Frank Gregan the club enjoyed two successive promotions in 1997 and 1998 to the Conference National where they finished 12th in their first season. A run to the final of the FA Trophy saw them lose 1–0 at Wembley Stadium to Kingstonian. They went on to appear in the FA Cup First Round for the first time, defeating Guiseley 6–0 to set up a home tie with Torquay United, which they lost 3–0.
Another appearance in the FA Trophy final in 2000 saw another 1–0 defeat, this time to Canvey Island at Villa Park.
In 2008-09 they reached the FA Cup 3rd round for the first time but lost 3-4 to Derby County on January 3, 2009 after leading 2-0. This game also saw Forest Green record their highest ever attendance with 4836 watching the match.
In March 2009 Forest Green reached the Setanta Shield final having defeated Ebbsfleet United 1-0 at Stonebridge Road to set up a final clash at the New Lawn with AFC Telford United. However despite having most of the chances Rovers lost the game in front of over 2,300 supporters on penalties 0-3 after it finished 0-0 at full time.
Forest Green reached the FA Cup 3rd round again the following season and were drawn away to Notts County in the third round.
Colours and crest
The club badge is very similar to the FC Barcelona badge. The flag of Saint George appears on both badges, showing his links to England as well as Catalunya. The clubs home shirt is the traditional black and white kit. When playing away from home the club wear an all green kit.
Stadium
The Lawn Ground had been home to the club since it was founded in 1890, and remained little more than a field until the club's continued progress demanded a series of upgrades from the 1950s. This included terraces, famously partial leveling of the pitch, the Trevor Horsley Stand and new Barnfield Terrace sponsored by Rockwool, the latter two being moved to the new facility in 2006.
At the start of the 2006–07 season, Forest Green opened The New Lawn. The northern covered terrace is known as the Rockwool Stand because of its sponsor. The western covered seated stand contains the 7 boxes and 'Green Man' bar. The away fans are housed in the EESI stand, which was completed halfway through the 2007/08 season. The stand is seated and can house between 500-600, and was originally the Trevor Horsley Stand, which was taken from The Lawn. The Eastern side of the ground is an open terrace available to home fans. The Western Thermal Stand is the main seated stand that can hold 2000 fans and also contains the Five Valleys Leisure Centre. Although the stadium can hold 5147 fans, the highest league attendance was 3021 against Oxford United. However the highest all time attendance was 4836 for an FA Cup third round tie at home to Championship side Derby County. The usual attendance is between 700 - 1200 for Conference fixtures and around 500 - 1000 for cup fixtures.
In April 2009 the ground hosted the Conference League Cup final, broadcast live on Setanta Sports.
Rivals
Current squad
- As of 5 December 2009.
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Coaching staff
- Dave Hockaday (manager)
- David Brown (player assistant manager)
- Mick Byrne (goalkeeper coach)
- Ian Rodgerson (physio)
Managers
- 2009 - Dave Hockaday
- 2006–2009 - Jim Harvey
- 2005–2006 - Gary Owers
- 2004–2005 - Alan Lewer
- 2003–2004 - Tim Harris
- 2002–2003 - Colin Addison
- 2001–2002 - Nigel Spink
- 2000–2001 - Nigel Spink & Dave Norton
- 1994–2000 - Frank Gregan
- 1992–1994 - Pat Casey
- 198?–1991 - John Evans
- 1980–198? - Bob Mursell
- 1968–1979 - Peter Goring
Records and statistics
- Best league position: 8th in Conference (level 5), 2007–08
- Best FA Cup performance: 3rd round, 2008–09
- Best FA Trophy performance: finalists, 1998–99 and 2000–01
- Best FA Vase performance: winners, 1981–82
- Best Football League Trophy performance: 1st round, 2003–04
- Best Lifestyle Plus Shield: winners 2006
- Biggest defeat: 0-7 Cambridge United 5th September 2009
- Best Setanta Shield performance: runners up, 2008–09
Honours
- FA Vase winners 1982
- Southern League Premier Division champions 1998
- Southern League Southern Division champions 1997
- Hellenic League champions 1982
Notable former players
- Kayode Odejayi
- Stuart Fleetwood
- Tony Daley
- Nigel Spink
- Alan McLoughlin
- Leon Cort
- Stuart Slater
- Des Lyttle
- Simon Clist
- Charlie Griffin
- Paul Warhurst
- Dennis Bailey
- Guy Madjo
- Jerry Gill
- Carl Heggs
- Christian Edwards
- Alex Lawless
- Ryan Harley
- Lee Fowler
- Lewis Haldane
- Guy Ipoua
- Ronnie Radford
- Gary Owers
- Andy Rammell
- Mark Cooper
Famous Fans
- Jack Russell (cricketer and artist) – former England and Gloucestershire wicketkeeper was born locally and has followed the club his whole life as well as a brief spell as goalkeeper coach.
- Tom Smith (musician) – lead singer of the rock band Editors.
- Dan Robinson (athlete) – British Olympic marathon runner who lives in Nailsworth and attends some matches.
Forest Green Rovers Ladies
Forest Green Ladies are members of the South West Combination Women's Football League. The ladies team have enjoyed a number of successful cup runs in previous seasons which including facing FA Women's Premier League opposition in the FA Women's Cup. In the 2007-08 season Rovers reached the fourth round of the competition but were knocked out by Liverpool L.F.C. and similarly the next season Rovers ladies reached the fourth round again however were knocked out of the competition by Leeds Carnegie L.F.C..
Currently out injured is Forest Green Rover's Ladies leading all time goalscorer Philippa Helliwell. She has hit the back of the net 272 times. She also currently stands as the all time goal scorer throughout the club's history. Injuring her knee, February 09' against Gloucester City in the County Cup 5th round - Forest Green Rover's Ladies have found goals hard to come by. She is a current living Forest Green legend - in her spare time she teaches English at Orchard School, Bristol. She is hoping to make her come back after Christmas with Laura Perehinec who is also currently sidelined with a knee injury.
External links
- Official Site
- Audio interviews, news, match reports
- Forest Green Rovers at the Football Club History Database
- Forest Green Rovers Supporters Trust
- Unofficial Site
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