Home of Forest Green Rovers FC

Opened 2006

Capacity 5,032

Rating: 4

(412) Google Reviews

Pleasant stadium in a beautiful area, but it's remoteness makes getting to and from the ground difficult and driving there will involve a reasonable walk up a big hill. The stadium facilities are to a good standard, but the food and drink service seems to struggle when capacity goes above a few hundred. We didn't even bother to try and get a beer, but queued for 40 minutes to get chips in the away end. Another ground ticked off, but I wouldn't rush back.
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7 months ago
Great little Stadium saw some excellently played football. Forest Green Rovers were an amazing tight team. WILL definitely be back to watch them again. Impressed with the facilities all food is vegan but very tasty. Had a great night here watching a decent side.
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5 months ago
Lovely clean little stadium. Great food and drink available. Awesome atmosphere too!
A bit out of the way. Minimalist football stadium. Beware if you're running late, there is nowhere to park your car. The vegan food is served with a smile, but is awful. The turnstiles are automated and not straight forward to use. All in all, glad it's not my home team's ground. Shall not be rushing back for a second visit.
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3 months ago
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History (from Wikipedia)

The stadium was due to cost the club £3 million and was approved in October 2003 by local council members, despite much local opposition due to the controversial siting of the development on school playing fields.[4] Work started on the stadium on 3 May 2005.

The new ground has facilities to house 230 car parking places, 3 coach parking places, a capacity of 5,147 and two seated stands - the main stand and another seated stand. The stadium also has a leisure club, gym, sauna, conference and meeting facilities as well as a pub and many other facilities. The stadium is used seven days a week for different events. The closest railway station to the stadium is 
Stroud.

The stadium was first used in a pre season friendly against 
Swindon Town in July 2006 and was officially opened in September 2006 when the England C team played a friendly fixture against Forest Green. The largest attendance so far at The New Lawn was in a FA Cup third round game against Derby County in January 2009 when 4836 watched Forest Green narrowly lose 3-4.

For the 2007–08 season 
Gloucester City shared the ground due to serious flooding at their home ground but have since moved to Evesham United, after spells at Cirencester Town and Cheltenham Town.

In April 2009, The New Lawn hosted the 
Conference League Cup final between Forest Green and AFC Telford United in which Telford won the game 0-3 on penalty kicks following the 90 minutes finishing goalless. The match was shown live on Setanta Sports. In December 2009 the ground was selected as part of the city of Bristol's 2018 FIFA World Cup bid to act as a training ground facility.

In June 2011, work began on the pitch at the stadium to make it the first organic football pitch in the world.
[5]

This was then followed in December 2011 by the installation of 180 solar panels to the EESI stand to help the club generate its own electricity.
[6]

In April 2012, the club introduced the first solar powered robotic lawn mower to be used on a football pitch in British football. The Etesia robot mower - known as a 'mow bot' - uses GPS technology to automatically guide it round the pitch without the need for human intervention.
[7]

In August 2012, a 
Manchester United XI played a pre-season friendly at the ground in aid of the Sustainability in Sport foundation which was created by Forest Green chairman Dale Vince and Gary Neville.[8]

On 25 August 2014, a 
BT Sport televised Conference National derby game with Bristol Rovers saw 3,781 in attendance, the highest ever recorded league attendance at the stadium.[9]

The stadium hosted what is believed to be the world's first ever vegan football match on 1 November 2014 in a Conference National game against 
Lincoln City.[10] The match received support from Paul and Stella McCartney.[11]

Things to do nearby.

The Olive Tree.

3 Reviews
Photo of Paul B.

We just had a great lunch here. Loved the lamb wraps and sweet potato wedges, although we feel the portion sizes were small given the price. Service was... Read More

Photo of aerynsun

Tucked away, just opposite (the now closed) sommerfields, The Olive Tree is small but perfectly formed! I had the happy opportunity to sit outside on a warm... Read More

Photo of AndyD

Whether it's a bacon butty with coffee for breakfast, a hearty lunch (or just a cake), or something like pizza or pasta for dinner, the Olive Tree is a... Read More

Old Lodge Inn.

4 Reviews
Photo of Alice C.

The Old Lodge is absolutely beautiful, it's surrounded by lush green fields, home not only to the pub but lots and lots of cows, grazing enjoying the lovely... Read More

Photo of Chris J.

We came up here last Sunday for bit of roast action. Located slap bang in the middle of Minchinhampton common this place has very lovely setting. Ideal for... Read More

Photo of Ed P.

Came here on a bank holiday weekend so the restaurant was busy and seemed to be heaving with dogs which didn't make for the most pleasant environment. The... Read More