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Forest Green Rovers - Club History
Taken from “Something to Shout About, The History of Forest Green Rovers AFC” The History Press ISBN 0-7524-4072-1, RRP £15-99.
Club History - Overview
The Club began their life in the Hamlet of Forest Green in October 1889, founded by the local Non Conformist Church Minister. In 1894 Forest Green Rovers became founder members of the Mid Gloucestershire League (MGL), the first “socker” league in the county outside Bristol.
The Rovers first team competed in two leagues almost every season from 1900 until 1922 and again from 1928 until 1937. (This was quite common with leagues generally not having as many teams as those today).
They switched from the MGL when it folded in 1902, to become members of the newly formed Stroud League and also members of the Dursley and District League which they won in 1903, the Clubs first silverware.
The Stroud League was won in 1912 under the name “Nailsworth and Forest Green United”, the separate Nailsworth Club having amalgamated with Rovers at the top of the hill above the town.
After a break for the Great War, Rovers enjoyed a period of great success winning two football leagues and three cups in both 1921 and 1922. They then joined the newly formed Gloucestershire Northern Senior League with Cheltenham Town among others in 1922.
1926 was the year that their field was officially enclosed and given the name “The Lawn”, where Rovers played from 1889 to 2006, and in 1927 a crowd of over 5000 saw them lift the County Cup beating the Sharpness “Sharks” in nearby Dursley.
The committee members then bought their field at auction on 1936 for the princely sum of £120, and the Northern Senior League was won for the first time in 1938.
After the Second World War, the Forest Green Welcome Home committee became the Forest Green Rovers Supporters Club, and with their voluntary graft and enthusiasm “The Lawn” was transformed into one of the premier grounds in the County, playing host to County matches and Cup Finals from the 1950s onwards.
The Supporters Club built their own Social Club which opened in 1968, providing revenue unheard of in previous eras, and with John Duff, an ex player elected as Chairman, an ambitious upward flight was put in motion.
Rovers joined the newly formed County League in 1968 and played under manager Peter Goring, (the ex Arsenal number 6), for the next 11 years moving up again to the Hellenic League in 1975 under Peter’s stewardship.
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