Away Travel: Forest Green Rovers 16th October
FOREST GREEN ROVERS
Thursday 16th October 2008, Kick-Off: 7.45pm
Forest Green Rovers FC, Nympsfield Road, Forest Green, Nailsworth, GL6 0ET. Tel: 01453 834860
Directions by Car: Forest Green Rovers play in the town of Nailsworth, so leave the M5 at Junction 13 (signposted Stroud A419). Follow this road to Stroud, until meeting the A46, and here, follow signs for Nailsworth A46. After around three miles, having entered Nailsworth, look out for the Information Centre, where you should opt for the first right at the mini-roundabout. Press on up the steep hill (Spring Hill) as it becomes Nympsfield Road, and after around 900 metres the ground appears on the left, at the new roundabout.
Parking: There are around 250 spaces at the ground, at a cost of £3. Otherwise, there is some street parking in the vicinity.
Train: The nearest station is Stroud, some four miles away. From here a taxi will cost around £7. The walk is a long, hilly one, and not advised, but some did have a bash at it last year. After the game, one can get back as far as London Paddington, but no closer to Cambridge, so train travel is not the most desirable of options.
The Away Travel Club will be running a coach to the game, priced at £22.50 for non-members, £20 for members and £13 for Junior U's and Under 16's. It is due to leave Ely at 2.00pm and the Trade Recruitment Stadium at 2.45pm.
Reminder: Those who were on the late-arriving away travel coach to Weymouth have been offered free travel to this fixture. Contact the club immediately to reserve your seat.
Admission: £13 for adults, £8 for concessions (over 65s and students), £5 for Under 16's.
Programme: £2.50
The Ground: In 2006, FGR moved slightly further up the hill to their newly constructed ground, which included some aspects transported intact from the previous Lawn. Away supporters are afforded the covered, seated stand behind a goal. Last year, with the stand only recently opened, it certainly had a rather DIY feel to it, and was bereft of any hoardings or barriers between the front gangway and the playing surface. The area is not expansive, but should be sufficient for a televised Thursday evening game in October.
Opposite the away supporters is a fair-sized covered terrace, to the right lies the all-seated Main Stand, and to the left, behind the dugouts, a Woking-esque uncovered, shallow, terrace.
Pre-Match Refreshment: There is a bar at the ground, which tends to admit away travellers, and certainly should do on Thursday. This bar, the Green Man, offers ample seating, carpets and for one night only, disgruntled fans moaning about a Thursday evening fixture in deepest, darkest Gloucestershire.
Elsewhere, pop down the horrendously steep hill into Nailsworth for a couple more pubs, and the odd convenience shop, or only go part of the way down the hill, and turn left into Star Hill, where the Jovial Foresters may be found.
Local Attractions: Deep and dark it may be, but should you arrive in daylight; there are some cracking vistas to be sampled, if you're partial to rolling hills. I know I am. Nailsworth is a Fairtrade town, which is very 21st century. The centre has been reinvigorated in recent years, but everything will most likely be closed by the time we arrive. St George's Church is also a pleasant old building.
Really, an evening in October is not all that conducive to good, clean fun, so just enjoy yourself and have a mug of Bovril and a flaky pastry.
Henry Milward
