2023–24 Forest Green Rovers F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 135th season in the history of Forest Green Rovers and their first season back in League Two since the 2021–22 season following their relegation from League One in the previous season. The club are participating in League Two, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

Forest Green Rovers
2023–24 season
OwnerDale Vince
ChairmanDale Vince
ManagerDavid Horseman
(until 20 December)[1]
Troy Deeney
(from 20 December to 18 January)[1][2]
Dan Connor (interim from 18 to 25 January)[2]
Steve Cotterill
(from 25 January)[3]
StadiumThe New Lawn
League Two24th (relegated to National League)
FA CupSecond round
EFL CupFirst round
EFL TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Matty Stevens (9)
All: Matty Stevens (11)
Highest home attendancevs Wrexham A.F.C. (4,121)
Lowest home attendancevs Shrewsbury Town F.C. (709
Average home league attendance(3,204)
Biggest winvs Colchester United F.C. (5-0)
Biggest defeatvs Wrexham A.F.C. (6-0)
2024–25 →

Current squad edit

As of 9 February 2024
No. Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (Age) Previous club Date signed Fee Contract end
Goalkeepers
1 Luke Daniels GK   Bolton (1988-01-05) 5 January 1988 (age 36) Middlesbrough 14 July 2023 Free 30 June 2024
20 Jamie Searle GK   Whakatāne (2000-11-25) 25 November 2000 (age 23) Barnsley 22 July 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2025
31 Tommy Simkin GK   (2004-12-08) 8 December 2004 (age 19) Stoke City 12 January 2024 Loan 31 May 2024
39 Vicente Reyes GK     Charleston (2003-11-19) 19 November 2003 (age 20) Norwich City 13 February 2024 Loan 20 February 2024
41 Fiachra Pagel GK   (2004-02-16) 16 February 2004 (age 20)   Drogheda United 2 January 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2024
Defenders
2 Marcel Lavinier RB     London (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 (age 23) Swindon Town 3 August 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2025
3 Dom Bernard CB     Gloucester (1997-03-29) 29 March 1997 (age 27) Birmingham City 17 July 2019 Free 30 June 2024
4 Darnell Johnson CB   Leicester (1998-09-03) 3 September 1998 (age 25) Fleetwood Town 4 August 2023 Free 30 June 2025
5 Ryan Inniss CB   Penge (1995-06-05) 5 June 1995 (age 28) Charlton Athletic 1 July 2023 Free 30 June 2025
15 Jordan Moore-Taylor CB   Exeter (1994-01-21) 21 January 1994 (age 30) Milton Keynes Dons 21 July 2020 Free 30 June 2024
16 Dominic Thompson LB   Willesden (2000-07-26) 26 July 2000 (age 23) Blackpool 12 January 2024 Loan 31 May 2024
17 Jamie Robson LB   Perth (1997-12-19) 19 December 1997 (age 26) Lincoln City 6 January 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2024
19 Sean Robertson RB   Wandsworth (2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 (age 22) Crystal Palace 4 August 2022 Free 30 June 2024
25 Fankaty Dabo RB   Southwark (1995-10-11) 11 October 1995 (age 28) Coventry City 1 September 2023 Free 30 June 2025
36 Richard Keogh CB     Harlow (1986-08-11) 11 August 1986 (age 37) Wycombe Wanderers 9 February 2024 Free 30 June 2024
44 Murphy Bennett RB     Stockport (2004-12-23) 23 December 2004 (age 19) Manchester City 1 July 2021 Undisclosed 30 June 2024
Keon Sanniola CB   Academy 5 September 2023 Trainee 30 June 2024
Midfielders
8 Charlie McCann DM     Coventry (2002-04-24) 24 April 2002 (age 22)   Rangers 24 January 2023 £300,000 30 June 2026
18 Jacob Maddox AM   Bristol (1998-11-03) 3 November 1998 (age 25) Walsall 7 August 2023 Free 30 June 2025
21 Alex Rodríguez CM   Tenerife (1993-08-01) 1 August 1993 (age 30) Oxford United 12 January 2024 Free 30 June 2024
22 Maxi Oyedele DM     Salford (2004-11-07) 7 November 2004 (age 19) Manchester United 17 January 2024 Loan 31 May 2024
26 David Davis CM   Smethwick (1991-02-20) 20 February 1991 (age 33) Shrewsbury Town 1 July 2022 Free 30 June 2024
27 Harvey Bunker DM   Portsmouth (2003-04-15) 15 April 2003 (age 21) Academy 1 July 2020 Trainee 30 June 2024
28 Callum Jones CM     Birkenhead (2001-04-05) 5 April 2001 (age 23) Hull City 1 July 2023 Loan 31 May 2024
29 Reece Brown CM   Dudley (1996-03-03) 3 March 1996 (age 28) Huddersfield Town 1 July 2022 Free 30 June 2024
32 Jack Carter CM   Academy 1 July 2023 Trainee 30 June 2024
34 Zach McKenzie CM   Academy 1 July 2023 Trainee 30 June 2024
40 Fin Bell CM   Academy 1 July 2023 Trainee 30 June 2024
46 Emmanuel Osadebe RM   Dundalk (1996-10-01) 1 October 1996 (age 27) Bradford City 18 January 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2025
51 Jesse Thompson CM   (2005-11-29) 29 November 2005 (age 18) Reading 1 July 2022 Free 30 June 2024
Dylan Kadji DM   (2003-09-01) 1 September 2003 (age 20) Bristol City 4 August 2023 Loan 31 May 2024
Forwards
7 Kyle McAllister RW   Paisley (1999-01-21) 21 January 1999 (age 25)   St Mirren 1 July 2022 Free 30 June 2025
9 Matty Stevens CF   Guildford (1998-02-12) 12 February 1998 (age 26) Peterborough United 27 July 2019 Undisclosed 30 June 2024
10 Christian Doidge CF   Newport (1992-08-25) 25 August 1992 (age 31)   Hibernian 31 January 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2025
11 Jordon Garrick RW     Kingston (1998-07-15) 15 July 1998 (age 25) Swansea City 5 January 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2024
23 Tyrese Omotoye CF   Hasselt (2002-09-23) 23 September 2002 (age 21) Norwich City 23 January 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2024
24 Olly Sully CF   (2005-09-08) 8 September 2005 (age 18) Academy 5 September 2023 30 June 2024
37 Nathan Holland LW   Manchester (1998-06-19) 19 June 1998 (age 25) Milton Keynes Dons 24 August 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2025
Out on Loan
6 Teddy Jenks CM   Brighton (2002-03-12) 12 March 2002 (age 22) Brighton & Hove Albion 1 July 2023 Free 30 June 2025
12 Alfie Bendle CM   (2005-01-27) 27 January 2005 (age 19) AFC Wimbledon 9 August 2023 Free 30 June 2025
Amadou Bakayoko CF   Kenema (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28) Bolton Wanderers 12 January 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2024

Transfers edit

In edit

Date Pos Player From Fee Ref
1 July 2023 CB   Ryan Inniss   Charlton Athletic Free Transfer [4]
1 July 2023 CM   Teddy Jenks   Brighton & Hove Albion Free Transfer [5]
14 July 2023 GK   Luke Daniels   Middlesbrough Free Transfer [6]
17 July 2023 CF   Matty Taylor   Oxford United Free Transfer [7]
22 July 2023 GK   Jamie Searle   Barnsley Undisclosed [8]
3 August 2023 RB   Marcel Lavinier   Swindon Town Undisclosed [9]
4 August 2023 CB   Darnell Johnson   Fleetwood Town Free Transfer [10]
7 August 2023 AM   Jacob Maddox   Walsall Free Transfer [11]
9 August 2023 CM   Alfie Bendle   AFC Wimbledon Free Transfer [12]
17 August 2023 CF   Troy Deeney   Birmingham City Free Transfer [13]
24 August 2023 LW   Nathan Holland   Milton Keynes Dons Undisclosed [14]
1 September 2023 RB   Fankaty Dabo   Coventry City Free Transfer [15]
12 January 2024 CM   Alex Rodríguez   Oxford United Free Transfer [16]
18 January 2024 RM   Emmanuel Osadebe   Bradford City Undisclosed [17]
31 January 2024 CF   Christian Doidge   Hibernian Undisclosed [18]
9 February 2024 CB   Richard Keogh   Wycombe Wanderers Free Transfer [19]

Out edit

Date Pos Player Transferred to Fee Ref
30 June 2023 GK   Alfie Burnett   Free agent Released [20]
30 June 2023 CB   Baily Cargill   Mansfield Town Released [20][21]
30 June 2023 CM   Regan Hendry   Tranmere Rovers Released [20][22]
30 June 2023 LB   Jacob Jones   Cove Rangers Released [20][23]
30 June 2023 GK   Luke McGee   Tranmere Rovers Released [20][24]
30 June 2023 CM   Dylan McGeouch   Carlisle United Released [20][25]
30 June 2023 CF   Sean O'Brien   Hayes & Yeading United Released [20][26]
30 June 2023 CM   Ben Stevenson   Portsmouth Released [20][27]
30 June 2023 GK   Lewis Thomas   Free agent Released [20]
6 July 2023 GK   Ross Doohan   Aberdeen Undisclosed [28]
6 July 2023 CM   Armani Little   AFC Wimbledon Undisclosed [29]
25 July 2023 RB   Corey O'Keeffe   Barnsley Undisclosed [30]
3 August 2023 CB   Udoka Godwin-Malife   Swindon Town Undisclosed [31]
1 February 2024 CF   Matty Taylor   Cheltenham Town Free Transfer [32]

Loaned in edit

Date Pos Player Loaned from Date until Ref
1 July 2023 CM   Callum Jones   Hull City End of Season [33]
4 August 2023 DM   Dylan Kadji   Bristol City End of Season [34]
10 August 2023 CB   Reece Welch   Everton 3 January 2024[a] [35][36]
1 September 2023 CF   Callum Morton   Salford City End of Season [37]
30 September 2023 GK   James Belshaw   Bristol Rovers 7 October 2023 [38]
12 January 2024 GK   Tommy Simkin   Stoke City End of Season [39]
12 January 2024 LB   Dominic Thompson   Blackpool End of Season [40]
17 January 2024 DM   Maxi Oyedele   Manchester United End of Season [41]
13 February 2024 GK   Vicente Reyes   Norwich City 20 February 2024 [42]
  1. ^ On 3 January, Welch was recalled back by Everton from his season-long loan.

Loaned out edit

Date Pos Player Loaned to Until Ref
27 July 2023 CF   Amadou Bakayoko   Dundee End of Season [43]
25 January 2024 CM   Teddy Jenks   Ross County End of Season [44]
2 February 2024 CM   Alfie Bendle   Eastbourne Borough 1 March 2024 [45]

Pre-season and friendlies edit

On 7 June, FGR announced four pre-season fixtures, against Melksham Town, Coventry City, Everton Under-21s and Plymouth Argyle.[46] A fifth was later added, against West Bromwich Albion.[47]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

5 July 2023 Friendly Melksham Town 1–1 Forest Green Rovers Melksham
19:30 BST Jones   85' Stadium: Oakfield Stadium
11 July 2023 Friendly UCD 0–2 Forest Green Rovers Dublin, Ireland
19:30 BST Stadium: UCD Bowl
18 July 2023 Friendly Forest Green Rovers 0–4 Coventry City Nailsworth
19:00 BST Report Simms   5', 30'
Palmer   6'
Obikwu   46'
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,345
19 July 2023 Friendly Forest Green Rovers 1–0 Everton U21 Nailsworth
19:00 BST Trialist G   46' Report Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 698
Referee: Sam Allison
22 July 2023 Friendly Plymouth Argyle 5–1 Forest Green Rovers Plymouth
15:00 BST Hardie   24', 29'
Mumba   38'
Wright   48'
Whittaker   59'
Stevens   33' Stadium: Harpers Park
Attendance: 0 (behind-closed-doors)
28 July 2023 Friendly Forest Green Rovers 2–0 West Bromwich Albion Nailsworth
19:00 BST Trialist   39'
Bernard   65'
Stadium: The New Lawn

Competitions edit

Overall record edit

Competition Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
League Two Matchday 1 32 5 8 19 32 60 −28 015.63
FA Cup First round Second round 2 1 0 1 4 5 −1 050.00
EFL Cup First round First round 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 000.00
EFL Trophy Group stage Second round 4 1 2 1 4 2 +2 025.00
Total 39 7 10 22 41 70 −29 017.95

Last updated: 17 February 2024
Source: Soccerway

League Two edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
19 Swindon Town 46 14 12 20 77 83 −6 54
20 Salford City 46 13 12 21 66 82 −16 51
21 Grimsby Town 46 11 16 19 57 74 −17 49
22 Colchester United 46 11 12 23 59 80 −21 45
23 Sutton United (R) 46 9 15 22 59 84 −25 42 Relegated to National League
24 Forest Green Rovers (R) 46 11 9 26 44 78 −34 42
Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[48]
(R) Relegated


Results summary edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
45 10 9 26 43 78  −35 39 4 4 14 18 38  −20 6 5 12 25 40  −15

Last updated: 20 April 2024.
Source: Soccerway

Matches edit

On 22 June, 2023 the EFL League Two fixtures were released.[49]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

5 August 2023 1 Forest Green Rovers 0–2 Salford City Nailsworth
15:00 BST McCann   43'
Robson   72'
Bunker   90'
Report Hendry   17'
McAleny   52'
Garbutt   72'
Bolton   90+2'
Smith   90+5'
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,936
Referee: Daniel Middleton
12 August 2023 2 Harrogate Town 0–1 Forest Green Rovers Harrogate
15:00 BST Cornelius   55' Report Jones   34'
Stevens   46'
Maddox   62'
Bernard   82'
Stadium: Wetherby Road
Attendance: 2,050
Referee: Leigh Doughty
15 August 2023 3 Forest Green Rovers 1–2 Swindon Town Nailsworth
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,868
Referee: Sunny Sukhvir Gill
19 August 2023 4 Forest Green Rovers 0–3 Newport County Nailsworth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,292
Referee: Scott Jackson
26 August 2023 5 AFC Wimbledon 1–1 Forest Green Rovers Wimbledon
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Plough Lane
Attendance: 6,949
Referee: Paul Howard
2 September 2023 6 Sutton United 0–1 Forest Green Rovers Sutton
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Gander Green Lane
Attendance: 2,546
Referee: Scott Simpson
9 September 2023 7 Forest Green Rovers 1–4 Crewe Alexandra Nailsworth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,855
Referee: Thomas Parsons
16 September 2023 8 Forest Green Rovers 1–2 Doncaster Rovers Nailsworth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,979
Referee: Jacob Miles
23 September 2023 9 Notts County 4–3 Forest Green Rovers Nottingham
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 10,648
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
30 September 2023 10 Forest Green Rovers 1–2 Morecambe Nailsworth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,290
Referee: Adam Herczeg
3 October 2023 11 Stockport County 2–0 Forest Green Rovers Edgeley
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,517
Referee: Ross Joyce
7 October 2023 12 Accrington Stanley 2–1 Forest Green Rovers Accrington
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Crown Ground
Attendance: 2,222
Referee: Ben Atkinson
14 October 2023 13 Forest Green Rovers 5–0 Colchester United Nailsworth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,137
Referee: Ollie Yates
24 October 2023 15 Forest Green Rovers 0–2 Barrow Nailsworth
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,440
Referee: Tom Reeves
28 October 2023 16 Forest Green Rovers 2–1 Crawley Town Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,898
Referee: Craig Hicks
11 November 2023 17 Tranmere Rovers 3–0 Forest Green Rovers Birkenhead
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 6,461
Referee: Edward Duckworth
18 November 2023 18 Forest Green Rovers 2–2 Grimsby Town Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,580
Referee: Scott Tallis
25 November 2023 19 Walsall 0–0 Forest Green Rovers Bescot
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 6,317
Referee: Peter Wright
28 November 2023 20 Forest Green Rovers 0–3 Bradford City Nailsworth
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,462
Referee: Simon Mather
16 December 2023 22 Milton Keynes Dons 2–0 Forest Green Rovers Denbigh
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Stadium MK
Attendance: 6,033
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
22 December 2023 23 Forest Green Rovers 0–0 Gillingham Nailsworth
19:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Referee: Sam Allison
26 December 2023 24 Newport County 4–2 Forest Green Rovers Newport
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,576
Referee: Stephen Martin
29 December 2023 25 Swindon Town 2–1 Forest Green Rovers Swindon
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: The County Ground
Attendance: 9,075
Referee: Scott Simpson
1 January 2024 26 Forest Green Rovers 1–1 AFC Wimbledon Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,786
Referee: James Durkin
6 January 2024 27 Salford City 2–2 Forest Green Rovers Kersal
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Moor Lane
Attendance: 2,355
Referee: Charles Breakspear
13 January 2024 28 Forest Green Rovers 0–2 Harrogate Town Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,695
Referee: Christopher Pollard
20 January 2024 29 Gillingham 1–1 Forest Green Rovers Gillingham
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Referee: Craig Hicks
27 January 2024 30 Forest Green Rovers 0–1 Accrington Stanley Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,238
Referee: Adam Herczeg
3 February 2024 31 Colchester United 3–3 Forest Green Rovers Colchester
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Colchester Community Stadium
Attendance: 4,519
Referee: Neil Hair
10 February 2024 32 Forest Green Rovers 0–4 Mansfield Town Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,240
Referee: Sunny Sukhvir Gill
13 February 2024 33 Barrow 1–2 Forest Green Rovers Barrow-in-Furness
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Holker Street
Attendance: 3,029
Referee: Lewis Smith
17 February 2024 34 Crawley Town 2–0 Forest Green Rovers Crawley
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 2,838
Referee: Ben Speedie
24 February 2024 35 Forest Green Rovers 1–0 Tranmere Rovers Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,308
Referee: Dale Baines
27 February 2024 21[50] Forest Green Rovers 1–1 Wrexham Nailsworth
19:45 GMT Osadebe   3' (Doidge)
Robson   90+2'
Mullin   90+3' (pen) Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 4,412
Referee: Will Finnie
Note: Originally postponed due to a waterlogged pitch in December 2023
2 March 2024 36 Grimsby Town 1–0 Forest Green Rovers Cleethorpes
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 6,506
Referee: Tom Reeves
9 March 2024 37 Forest Green Rovers 2–0 Walsall Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The Bolt New Lawn
Attendance: 2,883
Referee: Thomas Kirk
12 March 2024 38 Bradford City 0–2 Forest Green Rovers Bradford
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Valley Parade
Referee: Simon Mather
16 March 2024 39 Forest Green Rovers 0–1 Sutton United Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,664
Referee: Ben Toner
23 March 2024 40 Doncaster Rovers 2–0 Forest Green Rovers Doncaster
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Eco-Power Stadium
Attendance: 7,024
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
29 March 2024 41 Forest Green Rovers 0–3 Stockport County Nailsworth
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 3,145
Referee: Charles Breakspear
1 April 2024 42 Crewe Alexandra 0–3 Forest Green Rovers Crewe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 5,478
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
6 April 2024 43 Forest Green Rovers 0–2 Milton Keynes Dons Nailsworth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,507
Referee: Andy Davies
9 April 2024 14 Mansfield Town 1–0 Forest Green Rovers Mansfield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 3,201
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for 21 October and 16 January, but was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch from Storm Babet and a frozen pitch respectively.[51][52]
13 April 2024 44 Wrexham 6–0 Forest Green Rovers Wrexham
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 11,450
Referee: Sunny Singh Gill
20 April 2024 45 Morecambe 1–2 Forest Green Rovers Morecambe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Mazuma Mobile Stadium
Attendance: 4,491
Referee: Ross Joyce
27 April 2024 46 Forest Green Rovers 1–0 Notts County Nailsworth
15:00 BST Osadebe   45'
McCann   74'
Report Cameron   19'
Macari   70'
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 3610
Referee: Will Finnie

Postponed matches edit

21 October 2023 14 Mansfield Town v Forest Green Rovers Mansfield
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Field Mill
Note: Fixture postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and rescheduled for 16 January 2024.[53][54]
16 January 2024 14 Mansfield Town v Forest Green Rovers Mansfield
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Field Mill
Note: Fixture rescheduled from 21 October 2023 to 16 January 2024 and postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, to be rearranged for a later date.[54][55]
9 December 2023 21 Forest Green Rovers v Wrexham Nailsworth
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: The New Lawn
Note: Fixture postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, to be rearranged for a later date.[56]

FA Cup edit

Forest Green Rovers were drawn away to Scarborough Athletic in the first round. This match was played three times before a winner was confirmed by the Football Association, due to Forest Green Rovers fielding an ineligible player, under rule 109 of the FA Cup competition rules, in the original tie which ended in a 1-1 Draw. The player was on loan with Forest Green Rovers, but they had not received permission from the parent club to play him in the FA Cup. The FA ordered the match to be replayed on 6 December. This caused a knock-on effect of the second round tie against Blackpool being postponed until the original first round match had been replayed. The match against Blackpool was originally scheduled for 2 December 2023, and subsequently played on 19 December 2023[57][58][59]

12 December 2023 First round Scarborough Athletic 2–4 Forest Green Rovers Scarborough
19:45 GMT
Stadium: Scarborough Sports Village
19 December 2023 Second round Blackpool 3–0 Forest Green Rovers Blackpool
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 3,188
Referee: Scott Jackson
Note: Fixture originally scheduled for 2 December 2023, but later postponed after Forest Green Rovers and Scarbrough were ordered to replay the first round replay due to Forest Green Rovers fielding an ineligible player.[60]

Void matches edit

4 November 2023 First round Scarborough Athletic 1-1
Void
Forest Green Rovers Scarborough
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Scarborough Sports Village
Attendance: 3,209
Referee: Marc Edwards
Note: Fixture declared void due to Forest Green Rovers fielding an ineligible player, tie ordered to be replayed on 12 December 2024.[58]
14 November 2023 First round replay Forest Green Rovers 5-2
Void
Scarborough Athletic Nailsworth
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,146
Referee: Paul Howard
Note: Fixture declared void due to Forest Green Rovers fielding an ineligible player in the match of 4 November 2023.[58]

EFL Cup edit

FGR were drawn at home to Portsmouth in the first round.[61]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

8 August 2023 First round Forest Green Rovers 1–3 Portsmouth Nailsworth
19:45 BST Robertson   17'
Bunker   23'
Omotoye   24'
Robson   74'
Report Yengi   12'   30', 75' (pen.)
Scully   32'
Swanson   52'
Devlin   58'
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,868
Referee: Sam Purkiss

EFL Trophy edit

In the group stage, Forest Green were drawn into Southern Group A along with Walsall, Shrewsbury Town and Brighton & Hove Albion U21.[62][63] After topping the group, Forest Green Rovers were drawn at home to Oxford United.[64]

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Forest Green Rovers 3 1 1 1 0 4 1 +3 6 Advance to Round 2
2 ACA Brighton & Hove Albion U21 3 1 1 1 0 3 2 +1 6
3 L1 Shrewsbury Town 3 1 1 0 1 3 5 −2 5
4 L2 Walsall 3 0 0 1 2 5 7 −2 1
Updated to match(es) played on 14 November 2023. Source: EFL.com

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

5 September 2023 Group stage Forest Green Rovers 3–0 Shrewsbury Town Nailsworth
19:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Referee: Farai Hallam
10 October 2023 Group stage Walsall 1–1
(2–4 p)
Forest Green Rovers Bescot
19:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 1,516
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Penalties
7 November 2023 Group stage Forest Green Rovers 0–0
(2–4 p)
Brighton & Hove Albion U21 Nailsworth
19:00 GMT
Report
  • Flower   80'
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 750
Referee: David Rock
Penalties
5 December 2023 Second round Forest Green Rovers 0–1 Oxford United Nailsworth
19:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 494
Referee: Ollie Yates

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Troy Deeney named permanent Forest Green Rovers head coach after David Horseman exit". Sky Sports. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Forest Green sack Deeney after Just 29 days in charge". Sky Sports. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Steve Cotterill Appointed FGR Manager". Forest Green Rovers. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Inniss Becomes First Summer Arrival". Forest Green Rovers FC. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Jenks joins FGR". Forest Green Rovers FC. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Forest Green sign keeper Daniels after Boro exit". British Broadcasting Corporation. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
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