Football Season Guide

It has been a summer of revolution at the New Lawn as Forest Green Rovers look to learn the lessons from their first season in the Football League. The Green Devils looked out of their depth and heading for a return to non-league football until manager Mark Cooper ripped up his plan and changed almost his entire team in January. It proved to be just enough to stay up although it would have been a different story without striker Christian Doidge, who finished as leading goalscorer with 25 goals and he looks set to lead the line again this season. He could be partnered in attack by striker George Williams, who has signed a two-year deal from Fulham. Dale Vince, a “green energy” industrialist, continues to bankroll the small Gloucestershire club, having taken over in 2010. The first ever all-Vegan football have plans to move to a new eco-stadium on Junction 13 of the M5 in the near future. They have paid fees to Peterborough United for defender Liam Shephard and Exeter City for midfielder Lloyd James. They have grabbed versatile midfielder Carl Winchester from neighbours Cheltenham Town on a free transfer whilst winger Theo Archibald on a season-long loan from Brentford. Cooper has brought in three new goalkeepers this summer with James Montgomery and Lewis Thomas signing on permanent deals from Gateshead and Swansea City respectively whilst Robert Sanchez joins on a season-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion and the trio will fight it out for the No. 1 jersey. The mid-season signing of midfield playmaker Dayle Grubb proved to be something of a masterstroke and there will be plenty of expectations on his shoulders this season as the Green Devils look to show their teeth in the league and push for a play-off place.