Football Season Guide

The future is green in this part of the country as Forest Green Rovers burst into the Football League under the ownership of Dale Vince. A former New Age traveller, described a “green energy” industrialist, has bankrolled the small Gloucestershire club since taking over in 2010. He helped them hit the headlines after banning red meat and establishing Rovers as the first all-Vegan football club in 2015. He will be hoping to hit the headlines for footballing reasons after being promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history. They are the smallest club ever to have played at this level with their home town of Nailsworth boasting a population of less than 6,000. Vince can never be accused of a lack of ambition and has plans for a new eco-stadium on Junction 13 of the M5. In the meantime the appointment of Mark Cooper as manager in May 2016 proved to be the right decision as he guided the club to promotion after beating Tranmere Rovers 3-1 in the play-off final at Wembley. Cooper has been unable to hold onto influential defender Ethan Pinnock who has joined Championship side Barnsley but the mananger did withstand plenty of pressure from Notts County to keep midfielder and player of the season Liam Noble. The spine of the squad which achieved promotion after so many attempts is full of strength in the likes of goalkeeper Sam Russell, who was ever-present between the sticks last season, defender Dale Bennett and striker Christian Doidge who finished as leading goalscorer with 27 goals in all competitions. Cooper has also strengthened his squad with the additions of full-back Scott Laird and striker Luke James and he still has a very competitive budget with the support of Vince. Rovers certainly aren't planning to hang around in League Two for too long and a play-off place appears to be well within their grasp.