Forest Green Rovers was founded in October 1889 by the local Nonconformist church minister.[1] In 1894 Forest Green Rovers became founder members of the Mid Gloucestershire League, the first association football league in the county outside Bristol. After MGL folding in 1902, Forest Green become members of the newly formed Stroud League and also members of the Dursley and District League which they won in 1903, the club's first silverware. 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).
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.
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.
| Year | League | Lvl | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Position | Leading league scorer[2] | FA Cup | FL Cup | FA Trophy | Average home
attendance[3][4] |
|---|
| Name | Goals | Res | Rec | Res | Rec | Res | Rec |
|---|
| 1975–76 | Hellenic Football League
Premier Division | | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 82 | 53 | +29 | 52* | 4th of 16 | | | | | | | | |
| 1976–77 | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 33* | 11th of 16 |
| 1977–78 | 30 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 49 | 59 | −10 | 24* | 12th of 16 | QR2 | 1–0–1 |
| 1978–79 | 26 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 52 | 35 | +17 | 34* | 3rd of 14 | QR1 | 1–0–1 |
| 1979–80 | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 32* | 6th of 16 | QR2 | 1–0–1 |
| 1980–81 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 57 | 53 | +4 | 34* | 7th of 16 | QR1 | 1–2–1 |
| 1981–82 | 30 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 71 | 20 | +51 | 47* | 1st of 16
Promoted | QR1 | 0–0–1 |
| 1982–83 | Southern Football League
Midland Division | 7 | 32 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 68 | 32 | +36 | 66 | 3rd of 17 | QR1 | 0–0–1 |
| 1983–84 | 38 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 57 | 11th of 20 | QR2 | 1–1–1 | PR | 0–1–1 |
| 1984–85 | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 49 | 65 | −16 | 37 | 14th of 18 | QR1 | 1–0–1 | QR3 | 2–1–1 |
| 1985–86 | 40 | 14 | 9 | 17 | 52 | 56 | −4 | 51 | 14th of 21 | QR1 | 1–0–1 | QR1 | 0–0–1 |
| 1986–87 | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 57 | 9th of 20 | QR3 | 2–0–1 | QR1 | 0–0–1 |
| 1987–88 | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 67 | 54 | +13 | 58 | 9th of 22 | QR3 | 2–0–1 | QR3 | 2–0–1 |
| 1988–89 | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 64 | 67 | −3 | 52 | 12th of 22 | QR3 | 2–0–1 | QR1 | 0–0–1 |
| 1989–90 | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 75 | 62 | +13 | 61 | 10th of 22 | QR2 | 1–1–1 | QR3 | 2–0–1 |
| 1990–91 | 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 51 | 64 | −13 | 47 | 18th of 22 | QR2 | 2–1–1 | R3 | 5–1–1 |
| 1991–92 | 42 | 14 | 4 | 24 | 66 | 88 | −22 | 46 | 19th of 22 | QR1 | 0–0–1 | QR3 | 0–0–1 |
| 1992–93 | 42 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 61 | 97 | −36 | 42 | 19th of 22 | QR1 | 1–0–1 | | |
| 1993–94 | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 61 | 84 | −23 | 48 | 15th of 22 | QR1 | 0–1–1 |
| 1994–95 | 42 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 76 | −20 | 46 | 18th of 22 | PR | 0–1–1 | QR2 | 1–1–1 | |
| Club transferred. |
| 1995–96 | Southern Football League
Southern Division | 7 | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 85 | 55 | +30 | 74 | 8th of 22 | QR3 | 3–2–1 | QR1 | 0–0–1 |
| 1996–97 | 42 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 87 | 40 | +47 | 91 | 1st of 22
Promoted | QR1 | 0–0–1 | QR2 | 1–0–1 |
| 1997–98 | Southern Football League
Premier Division | 6 | 42 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 93 | 55 | +38 | 89 | 1st of 22
Promoted | QR2 | 1–0–1 | QR2 | 0–0–1 |
| 1998–99 | Conference
National | 5 | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 55 | 50 | +5 | 58 | 12th of 22 | Marc McGregor | 12 | QR3 | 0–0–1 | RU | 6–1–1 | 854 |
| 1999–2000 | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 54 | 63 | −9 | 47 | 19th of 22 | Marc McGregor | 12 | R2 | 2–0–1 | R4 | 2–0–1 | 975 |
| 2000–01 | 42 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 43 | 54 | −11 | 48 | 16th of 22 | Alex Meechan | 13 | R1 | 1–0–1 | RU | 5–2–1 | 862 |
| 2001–02 | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 54 | 76 | −22 | 51 | 18th of 22 | Mark Cooper | 17 | R1 | 1–2–0 | R5 | 2–1–1 | 841 |
| 2002–03 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 61 | 62 | −1 | 59 | 9th of 22 | Neil Grayson | 15 | R1 | 1–1–1 | QF | 3–0–1 | 858 |
| 2003–04 | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 58 | 80 | −22 | 48 | 18th of 22 | Scott Rogers
Neil Grayson | 9 | QR4 | 0–0–1 | R4 | 1–1–1 | 902 |
| 2004–05 | 42 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 41 | 81 | −40 | 33 | 20th of 22 | Charlie Griffin | 17 | R1 | 1–1–1 | R3 | 0–0–1 | 743 |
| Reprieved from relegation due to Northwich Victoria demotion. |
| 2005–06 | 42 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 49 | 62 | −13 | 38 | 19th of 22 | Paul Wanless | 10 | QR4 | 0–0–1 | R3 | 2–0–1 | 977 |
| 2006–07 | 46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 59 | 64 | −5 | 57 | 14th of 24 | Simon Clist
Danny Carey-Bertram | 7 | QR4 | 0–0–1 | R1 | 0–0–1 | 1,185 |
| 2007–08 | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 76 | 59 | +17 | 71 | 8th of 24 | Stuart Fleetwood | 27 | R2 | 2–2–1 | R2 | 1–0–1 | 1,178 |
| 2008–09 | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 70 | 76 | −6 | 52 | 18th of 24 | Andrew Mangan | 26 | R3 | 3–1–1 | QF | 3–0–1 | 955 |
| 2009–10 | 44 | 12 | 9 | 23 | 50 | 76 | −26 | 45 | 21st of 23 | Jonathan Smith | 8 | R3 | 3–1–1 | R1 | 0–0–1 | 1,012 |
| Reprieved from relegation due to Salisbury City demotion. |
| 2010–11 | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 53 | 72 | −19 | 46 | 20th of 24 | Reece Styche | 15 | R1 | 1–0–1 | R1 | 0–0–1 | 949 |
| 2011–12 | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 66 | 45 | +21 | 70 | 10th of 24 | Yan Klukowski | 18 | QR4 | 0–0–1 | R1 | 0–1–1 | 1,034 |
| 2012–13 | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 63 | 49 | +14 | 65 | 10th of 24 | James Norwood | 15 | R1 | 1–1–1 | R2 | 1–0–1 | 1,202 |
| 2013–14 | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 80 | 66 | +14 | 67 | 10th of 24 | James Norwood | 18 | QR41 | 0–0–1 | R2 | 1–3–0 | 1,194 |
| 2014–15 | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 80 | 54 | +26 | 79 | 5th of 24 | Jon Parkin | 25 | QR1 | 1–1–1 | R2 | 1–3–0 | 1,502 |
| Lost in the play-off semifinal. |
| Fifth and sixth tier divisions renamed. |
| 2015–16 | National
League | 5 | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 69 | 42 | +27 | 89 | 2nd of 24 | Jon Parkin | 13 | R2 | 2–0–1 | | | R1 | 0–0–1 | 1,758 |
| Lost in the play-off final. |
| 2016–17 | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 88 | 56 | +32 | 86 | 3rd of 24 | Christian Doidge | 25 | QR4 | 0–0–1 | R3 | 2–1–1 | 1,753 |
| Promoted after winning the play-offs. |
| 2017–18 | Football
League Two | 4 | 46 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 54 | 77 | -23 | 47 | 21st of 24 | Christian Doidge | 20 | R2 | 1–1–1 | R1 | 0–0–1 | R3 | 3–0–2 | 2,772 |
1. ^http://www.forestgreenroversfc.com/about-forest-green-rovers/our-history Forest Green Rovers: Our history
2. ^http://forestgreenroversfc.co.uk/id12.html Forest Green Rovers archived stats
3. ^{{cite web |url=http://european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn.htm |title=English non-league attendances archive |publisher=EFS |accessdate=2 March 2016}}
4. ^Average home attendance = for league games only
5. ^http://www.forestgreenroversfc.co.uk/id12.html The 15 Conference Seasons of Forest Green Rovers
| Year | Goalkeepers | Defenders | Midfielders | Strikers |
|---|
| 1998/99 | Justin Shuttlewood | Mike Kilgour
Jason Drysdale
Ian Hedges
Chris Honor | Rob Cook
Don Forbes
Nathan Wigg
Danny Bailey | Marc McGregor
Alex Sykes |
| 1999/2000 | Steve Perrin | Billy Clark
Jason Drysdale
Ian Hedges
Wayne Hatswell | Chris Burns
Don Forbes
Tony Daley
Danny Bailey | Marc McGregor
Alex Sykes |
| 2000/01 | Steve Perrin | Billy Clark
Jason Drysdale
Dave Norton
Wayne Hatswell | Chris Burns
Robin Cousins
Tony Daley
Stuart Slater | Adrian Foster
Alex Meechan |
| 2001/02 | Steve Perrin | Simon Travis
Kevin Langan
Stephen Jenkins
Jamie Impey | Mark Shaw
Robin Cousins
Martin Foster
Mark Cooper | Carl Heggs
Alex Meechan |
| 2002/03 | Steve Perrin | Matthew Russell
Kevin Langan
Stephen Jenkins | Gary Owers
Alex Sykes
Martin Foster
John Richardson | Neil Grayson
Kayode Odejayi
Alex Meechan |
| 2003/04 | Steve Perrin | Denny Ingram
Lee Phillips
Gareth Stoker | Scott Rogers
Damon Searle
Martin Foster
John Richardson | Neil Grayson
Steve Cowe
Alex Meechan |
| 2004/05 | Dean Williams / Steve Perrin | Des Lyttle
Adam Garner
Matt Gadsby
Stuart Roberts | Scott Rogers
Damon Searle
Chris Davies
John Richardson | Charlie Griffin
Mark Beesley |
| 2005/06 | Ryan Clarke | Abdul Sall
Sekani Simpson
Matt Gadsby
Luke Graham | Paul Wanless
Damon Searle
John Richardson | Alex Meechan
Julian Alsop
Guy Madjo |
| 2006/07 | Ryan Robinson | Darren Jones
Kevin Nicholson
John Hardiker | Michael Brough
Les Afful
Alex Lawless
Simon Clist | Alex Meechan
Mark Beesley
Saul Williams |
| 2007/08 | Ryan Robinson | Darren Jones
Paul Stonehouse
Anthony Tonkin
John Hardiker | Michael Brough
Jamie Pitman
Alex Lawless
Simon Clist | Stuart Fleetwood
Chris Giles |
| 2008/09 | Terry Burton | Darren Jones
Paul Stonehouse
Jerry Gill
Mark Preece | Jonathan Smith
Lee Fowler
Alex Lawless
Simon Clist | Conal Platt
Andrew Mangan |
| 2009/10 | Terry Burton | Jared Hodgkiss
Paul Stonehouse
Ollie Thorne
Mark Preece | Jonathan Smith
Daniel Powell
Isaiah Rankin | Conal Platt
David Brown
Tomi Ameobi |
| 2010/11 | James Bittner | Jared Hodgkiss
Luke Jones
Gavin Caines
Craig Armstrong | Yan Klukowski
Kieron Forbes
Wayne Turk
Curtis McDonald | Ross Dyer
Reece Styche |
| 2011/12 | James Bittner /
Sam Russell | Jared Hodgkiss
Eddie Oshodi
Jamie Turley
Chris Stokes | Yan Klukowski
Kieron Forbes
James Rowe
Luke Graham | James Norwood
Matty Taylor |
| 2012/13 | Sam Russell | Jared Hodgkiss
Eddie Oshodi
Jamie Turley
Chris Stokes | Yan Klukowski
Kieron Forbes
Al Bangura
Aarran Racine | James Norwood
Matthew Taylor |
| 2013/14 | Sam Russell | Jared Hodgkiss
Eddie Oshodi
Dale Bennett
Paul Green | Yan Klukowski
Marcus Kelly
Al Bangura
Anthony Barry | James Norwood
Danny Wright |