2014–15 Forest Green Rovers F.C. season

The 2014-15 Forest Green Rovers season is Forest Green Rovers' 17th season in the Conference Premier.

Transfers

In

Out

Season diary

May

On 7 May 2014, former Wales international defender David Pipe became Forest Green's first summer signing. Two signings in one day followed on 12 May as Kurtis Guthrie and Sam Wedgbury arrived at the club. A day later on 13 May James Norwood received a call up to the England C squad for an international with Slovakia later in the month. On 23 May, it was announced that Crystal Palace and Birmingham City would be two of the pre-season opponents to visit The New Lawn ahead of the new campaign. Further pre-season friendlies with local sides Shortwood United, Slimbridge and Brimscombe & Thrupp to be played away from The New Lawn were announced later in the month too.

June

On 3 June 2014, left back James Jennings joined the club on a two-year deal having been released by Mansfield Town a month earlier. Three days later on 6 June 2014, goalkeeper Steve Arnold joined the club following his departure from Stevenage. The club revealed on 9 June that PUMA had become the clubs official kit supplier, replacing Addidas. On 13 June, Clovis Kamdjo arrived at The New Lawn as the latest summer signing having agreed a two-year deal to join the club. Three days later, on 16 June, Matty Taylor joined Conference National new boys Bristol Rovers on a free transfer having turned down the offer of a contract from Forest Green. On 25 June, England C international Elliott Frear joined the club having departed Salisbury City. The winger signed a two-year contract with the club. On 29 June, another player joined the club from Salisbury as midfielder Rob Sinclair arrived at the club signing a two-year contract.

July

On 1 July 2014, a final pre-season game against an Arsenal XI was confirmed. The game was arranged to be Forest Green's final pre-season warm up on 5 August ahead of the start of the league season. On 3 July the first team squad returned for their first day of pre-season training. Three days later, on 6 July, the squad travelled to Scotland for a week long training camp. Championship side Birmingham City were The visitors to The New Lawn on 15 July for Forest Green's first pre-season friendly. A first half strike from Clayton Donaldson was enough to earn Birmingham a 1-0 win. The following evening, on 16 July, a 4-0 win over Bishop's Cleeve at their Kayte Lane home handed Forest Green their first pre-season win. On 18 July an additional pre-season friendly against Gloucester City was added to the team's schedule. The match was organized for 22 July - the same date Forest Green faced a friendly with Slimbridge. It was confirmed that one half of the squad would travel to take on Gloucester City with the other half set to take on Slimbridge. Also on 18 July, it was confirmed that Kieron Forbes had joined league rivals Aldershot Town on a six-month loan deal. On 19 July, the scheduled pre-season friendly with Shortwood United was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch following torrential rain and thunderstorms. On 21 July, Jon Parkin became the club's latest summer signing. The front man signed a one-year contract.

On 22 July, wins over Slimbridge and Gloucester City on the same evening saw a split squad pick up two wins. A James Norwood strike earned Forest Green a win over local side Slimbridge while Forest Green picked up a 5-3 win against Gloucester City at Whaddon Road. Despite having two years left to run on his contract, Andy Mangan was confirmed as having left the club on 24 July. The striker moved into the Football League, agreeing a one-year contract with Shrewsbury Town. On 29 July, two goals from Lee Hughes plus further strikes from Marcus Kelly and Danny Wright helped Forest Green to a pre-season win over Brimscombe & Thrupp.

August

On 1 August 2014, Magno Vieira joined league rivals Nuneaton Town on a one-month loan deal. The following day, on 2 August, Forest Green suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Premier League side Crystal Palace in the club's penultimate pre-season friendly. A first half hat-trick from England international Fraizer Campbell secured Crystal Palace victory. On 4 August, it was confirmed that club secretary Michelle McDonald was stepping down from her role with the club. On 5 August, Forest Green completed their pre-season schedule with a visit from Arsenal at The New Lawn in front of a crowd of 1748. Arsenal picked up a 6-4 win in an entertaining game as James Norwood and Rob Sinclair both scored twice for Forest Green. The following day, on 6 August, Danny Coles joined the club on a one-year contract from Exeter City.

The club began its Conference National season with a 1-0 away win at Southport on 9 August. Lee Hughes scored with a header to give Forest Green their first ever opening day away win in the division. On 12 August Forest Green's first home game of the season brought another win as goals from Clovis Kamdjo and Jon Parkin sealed a 2-1 win against Chester. A 2-0 win over Alfreton Town at The New Lawn on 16 August made it three wins to start the season. Hughes scored his 300th career goal in the win. On 20 August, the club unveiled its new away kit which saw the return of a black and white stripe shirt to the club. The kit was brought back to celebrate Forest Green's 125th anniversary and featured the traditional red socks previously worn by the club. Also on 20 August, a training ground friendly at Cheltenham Town saw Forest Green lose 6-3. On 22 August, an away game at Aldershot Town brought a 1-1 draw - a result which saw Forest Green go top of the table.

On 25 August, a crowd of 3781, the highest league attendance ever recorded at The New Lawn, watched Forest Green draw 1-1 with Bristol Rovers. The match was shown live on BT Sport. Four days later, on 29 August, two players left the club. Al Bangura and Danny Wright both had their contracts terminated a year early. Wright joined league rivals Gateshead. On 30 August, James Norwood scored his first goal of the season to help Forest Green to a 1-1 draw at Welling United.

September

On 6 September 2014, Forest Green suffered their first defeat of the season suffering a 1-0 loss at The New Lawn against Wrexham. Three days later, on 9 September, they slipped to another 1-0 defeat in an away game with Nuneaton Town. Goals from James Norwood and Jon Parkin on 13 September however helped Forest Green to a 2-0 home win over FC Halifax Town. On 16 September, the club confirmed that goalkeeper Paul White had joined Gloucester City on an initial one-month loan deal. Later that day, Jon Parkin scored a late free kick in a 2-2 away draw at Eastleigh to earn Forest Green a point at the Silverlake Stadium. On 20 September, goals from Marcus Kelly and Lee Hughes handed Forest Green a 2-1 win at Dartford. Forest Green won a friendly 2-0 against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on 23 September. Later that day the club's under 18s squad were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at the first qualifying round stage, losing 1-0 away to Cirencester Town under 18s. On 25 September, Christian Jolley joined the club on an initial one month loan deal from Newport County. A day later, on 26 September, it was confirmed that Forest Green would receive a three point deduction after it was revealed that the club had fielded an ineligible player in their opening day win against Southport. The club also received a £500 fine. The following day, on 27 September, a stoppage time goal condemned Forest Green to a 2-1 home defeat against Barnet at The New Lawn. On 30 September, Jon Parkin and James Norwood both scored to help Forest Green to a 2-1 home win over Torquay United.

October

On 4 October 2014, Elliott Frear scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 away draw at Macclesfield Town. Three dsys later, on 7 October, another away game at AFC Telford United saw Lee Hughes scored a second half header to help Forest Green to a 1-0 win. The following day, on 8 October, it was confirmed that Anthony Barry had joined League Two side Accrington Stanley on a three month loan. On 11 October, Jon Parkin scored his sixth goal of the season as Forest Green drew 1-1 with Gateshead at The New Lawn. On 13 October, the draw for the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup handed Forest Green an away tie against either Staines Town or Gloucester City. On 18 October, Danny Coles scored the only goal of the game against his former club in a 1-0 away win over Bristol Rovers. On 24 October, it was confirmed that Christian Jolley had seen his loan spell with the club extended by a further month. He was also given permission by parent club, Newport County to represent Forest Green in the FA Cup. The following day, on 25 October, a 4-1 win over Gloucester City at Whaddon Road saw over 660 away supporters cheer the team on to victory in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. The draw for the first round proper of the FA Cup was made two days later, on 27 October, as Forest Green were handed a home draw with League One side Scunthorpe United. On 30 October it was confirmed that Glyn Jones had been appointed as goalkeeper coach.

November

Forest Green came from being 3-0 down at home to Lincoln City on 1 November 2014, to draw 3-3 thanks to a last minute equaliser from Dale Bennett. On the same day the club hosted the world's first ever vegan football match and the FA Cup trophy also visited the ground.

Matches

Pre-season friendlies

Conference Premier

FA Cup

See also

• 2014-15 in English football