Grigg signs as abandoned Barrow trip leaves Forest Green with two games in hand
Sunday 25 October 2026 · By Andy Whiteside
Forest Green Rovers signed experienced striker Will Grigg on Friday, but their trip to Barrow the following day was abandoned after only 14 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch.
Grigg joined on a free transfer from Chesterfield, on a deal until June 2028, according to the club. He gives the coaching team of Jonathan Gould, Yan Klukowski and Josh Bowen another option in attack.
At Holker Street, FGR fell behind inside the first minute when Isaac Marriott lobbed goalkeeper Luke McNicholas. But as Storm Boelo brought heavy rain to the north of England, the pitch quickly became waterlogged, and referee Stuart Morland abandoned the game after 14 minutes.
The game will now be replayed in full, starting at 0–0, so Marriott’s goal does not count. No new date has been set.
Klukowski was unhappy that the game started at all. The Non-League Paper’s headline quoted him: “We shouldn’t have started.” He criticised the decision to start the game in those conditions.
The abandonment means FGR have played only 12 Enterprise National League games, two fewer than most of their rivals. Their trips to Scunthorpe United and Barrow both need to be rearranged.
That gives FGR two games in hand. They are 17th in the table, on 15 points, with four wins, three draws and five defeats. That leaves them three points clear of the relegation zone.
Those games in hand could make a big difference. If FGR win them, they would climb into mid-table.
FGR are still without a permanent manager. Rob Savage left for Peterborough United on 2 October, and the coaching trio have been in charge since then.
Grigg’s arrival adds experience to the squad. FGR will hope he can add goals to the side.
The week ahead brings two home games at The New Lawn. FGR host Eastleigh on Wednesday night, with kick-off at 7.45pm GMT. Eastleigh beat Boston United 4–2 on Saturday, thanks to Aaron Blair’s hat-trick.
On Saturday, FGR host second-placed Harrogate Town, with kick-off at 12.30pm GMT. Harrogate have won their last five league games, so it will be a demanding test.
FGR then travel to Luton Town in the FA Cup first round on Saturday 7 November, with kick-off at 3pm GMT.
Two home games give the coaching team a chance to climb the table. Six points would move FGR well clear of trouble and make the games in hand even more valuable.
The challenge is to stay consistent while the club’s search for a manager continues. FGR’s players have shown they can compete, and the addition of Grigg gives them a new option.
If they can make the most of their home games, FGR could soon be looking up the table rather than down.
The New Lawn sits on the hillside above Nailsworth in the Cotswolds, a compact 5,147-capacity ground that has been Forest Green Rovers’ home since 2006. Visiting supporters get a whole side of the stadium: the West Stand, a shallow terrace with a small covered pocket towards the South (EESI) end. The view is unrestricted, but most of the terrace is open to the weather. Bring a coat if the forecast is wet; the ground is exposed and the wind can cut across the valley.
Away entry is through turnstiles 9 and 10, around the back from the main gates. It is a short but uneven walk of about 180 metres. You enter at the top of the terrace and walk down towards pitch level. The 100 covered seats sit behind about sixteen steps, so they are not suitable if you need level access. Wheelchair spaces for visiting supporters are pitchside in the East Stand, next to the away bench, and must be booked through your own club. Those tickets include a reserved parking bay.
Do not expect to park at the stadium unless you have pre-booked hospitality or a Blue Badge space. Matchday restrictions apply on nearby streets. For Saturday games the club runs a park-and-ride from the south entrance of Renishaw on Stroud Road (GL5 5HA / GL5 5EY). Spaces are first come, first served and payment is card only. Nailsworth Primary School sometimes offers a small paid car park a few minutes’ walk away. Coaches cannot park at the ground. The nearest railway station is Stroud, roughly five miles off; buses and taxis cover the last stretch up the hill.
There is an Away Fan Zone to the right of the main entrance, usually with a BrewDog bar, vegan street food, coffee and a marquee. It is often closed for midweek cups, so check before you travel. Inside the West Terrace there is a kiosk that can get busy at half-time. The whole ground is cashless. Forest Green serve only vegan food: pies, burgers and snacks without meat. The Green Man pub behind the East Stand is for home supporters. Nailsworth itself is a little over a mile downhill and has independent pubs and cafés, though not every door welcomes colours on a matchday. Stroud is the better bet if you want a wider choice before kick-off.
Tickets are cheaper in advance than on the day. Typical away prices sit in the high teens for uncovered standing, a little more for covered standing or the small block of seats. Concessions apply for over-65s, under-21s and juniors; under-11s with an adult are usually a pound. Buy through your club or Forest Green’s site and use an e-ticket if you can. Turnstiles generally open ninety minutes before kick-off. Stewards are used to large travelling supports and the allocation on the West side can run to around a thousand.
The pitch runs north–south. The North Stand is a covered community terrace; the South Stand is the louder home end. The East Stand is the main seated side, with boxes, the club offices and the dugouts in front of it. Your view from the West is along the touchline, with the goals directly in front of those two end stands. The ground is famous for its green credentials — an organic pitch, solar panels and a meat-free menu — but on a wet Tuesday it is still a hillside terrace in Gloucestershire. Dress for the hill, arrive early if you are driving, and you will have a straightforward, well-run away day.