Club Overview
Full Name: Forest Green Rovers Football Club
Nickname: The Green, Rovers
Founded: 1889
League: National League
Ground: The New Lawn
Location: Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
Colours: Green & Black
Forest Green Rovers are one of the most famous non-league clubs in the world. Known globally for their environmental initiatives, the club has been described by FIFA as the world’s greenest football club and became the first fully vegan football club. On the pitch, Forest Green achieved promotion to the Football League in 2017 and won the League Two title in 2021/22.
Quick Facts
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1889 |
| Nickname | The Green |
| Ground | The New Lawn |
| Capacity | 5,147 |
| Opened | 2006 |
| Postcode | GL6 0FG |
| League | National League |
| Chairman | Dale Vince |
| Club Colours | Green & Black |
Forest Green are one of the oldest clubs in English football and have played at The New Lawn since moving from their historic Lawn Ground in 2006.
Stadium Guide
The New Lawn
Ground Information
- Capacity: 5,147
- Opened: 2006
- Surface: Organic Grass Pitch
- Address: Another Way, Nailsworth, GL6 0FG
- Home of Forest Green Rovers since 2006
The New Lawn is regarded as one of the most environmentally sustainable football stadiums in the world. It features solar panels, electric vehicle charging points, rainwater harvesting systems and the world’s first fully organic football pitch.
Record Attendance
4,836 vs Derby County
FA Cup Third Round
3 January 2009.
Sustainability Features
- Organic pitch maintenance
- Solar-powered infrastructure
- Vegan matchday catering
- Electric vehicle charging
- Renewable energy usage
These initiatives have made Forest Green one of the most recognised football clubs globally despite their relatively small size.
Club History
Forest Green Rovers were founded in 1889 and spent much of their early history playing local football in Gloucestershire. The club gradually rose through the non-league pyramid before reaching the Football Conference (now National League) in 1998.
For many years Forest Green were known as one of non-league football’s most consistent clubs, becoming one of the longest-serving members of the National League. The arrival of renewable energy entrepreneur Dale Vince in 2010 transformed both the club’s ambitions and its global profile.
Under Vince’s ownership, Forest Green introduced a range of pioneering environmental initiatives including vegan food, renewable energy and sustainable stadium operations. These innovations attracted worldwide media attention while the team continued progressing on the pitch.
In 2017, Forest Green won promotion to the Football League for the first time in club history after defeating Tranmere Rovers in the National League Play-Off Final at Wembley. The club reached another historic milestone in 2022 by winning the League Two title.
Following relegations from League One and League Two, Forest Green returned to the National League but remain one of the division’s most ambitious clubs.
Honours
National Honours
- League Two Champions (2021/22)
- National League Play-Off Winners (2016/17)
Regional Honours
- Southern League Champions
- Southern League Cup Winners
- Gloucestershire Senior Cup Winners
Forest Green’s rise from village football to the Football League is regarded as one of the greatest success stories in modern non-league football.
Club Records
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1889 |
| Ground Capacity | 5,147 |
| Record Attendance | 4,836 |
| Football League Promotion | 2017 |
| League Two Champions | 2022 |
Famous Players
- Christian Doidge
- Matty Stevens
- Reuben Reid
- Jamille Matt
- Kane Wilson
Many players who starred for Forest Green during their Football League rise went on to establish themselves at higher levels of the game.
Rivalries
Main Rivals
- Cheltenham Town
- Gloucester City
- Swindon Town
- Bristol Rovers
Matches against fellow Gloucestershire clubs generate significant local interest and attract some of the biggest crowds of the season.
Matchday Guide
Getting There
By Train
- Stroud Station is the nearest major railway station.
- Bus services connect Stroud with Nailsworth.
By Car
- Accessible from Junction 13 of the M5.
- Matchday parking available near the stadium.
Food & Drink
- Fully vegan stadium menu
- Vegan burgers
- Vegan pies
- Plant-based snacks and drinks
Forest Green became the world’s first football club to serve an entirely vegan menu throughout the stadium. Food sales increased significantly after the change was introduced.
Nearby Attractions
- Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- Stroud
- Woodchester Mansion
- Slimbridge Wetland Centre
The location provides one of the most picturesque away days in English football.
What Makes Forest Green Rovers Special?
The World’s Greenest Football Club
The club has become internationally recognised for sustainability, renewable energy and environmental innovation.
Vegan Football
Forest Green were the first fully vegan football club and continue to lead the way in sustainable sport.
Eco Park
The club plans to move into a revolutionary timber-built stadium as part of the Eco Park development near Junction 13 of the M5. The proposed venue will be one of the most environmentally sustainable sports complexes ever built.