Forest Green Rovers supporters warmly welcome all fans of National League clubs travelling to Nailsworth during the 2024/25 season
Forest Green is a suburb of the Cotswold town of Nailsworth. Nailsworth, population about 6,000, is the smallest place ever to host an EFL football club. It’s a beautiful town in a beautiful location – worth taking some time to explore.
We will be moving to a new stadium in the future, but the New Lawn is on top of a hill (one of the highest grounds in the country) where you can count the sheep in the neighbouring fields. There are no amenities close to the ground and parking is very limited so you should plan your day carefully to get the most out of your trip. If you keep in mind that FGR is a small club in a small town and crowds are a bit of a test for the local infrastructure, then we’re sure your visit will exceed your expectations.
You’ll find the home fans helpful and friendly. It’s very much a family atmosphere and it would be unusual for there to be any issues at the ground. We’d love to keep it this way!
Travelling to The New Lawn
The New Lawn is not the easiest ground to get to but there are a number of options.
Park & Ride – For all Saturday matches there is a Park & Ride service from the South Entrance of Renishaw on Stroud Road (postcode: GL5 5HA). Parking here is on a first-come, first-served basis (but spaces are fairly plentiful) and it is only £5 per car (card or contactless only). It’s less than a couple of miles from the ground and should probably be your preferred choice if you aren’t familiar with the area. The buses drop you and collect you from right outside the stadium. The Park & Ride usually opens at about 12.30 pm. It does NOT operate for midweek games.
Rail and/or bus – there are stations at Stroud and Gloucester and a half hourly service on the Number 63 bus takes you straight to the stadium from both of these stations. It’s a walk of about 400m to reach the bus station in Stroud (a little less in Gloucester). Click here for the full timetable bus timetable to FGR from Stroud & Gloucester – you won’t be able to use this bus to return to Stroud or Gloucester after an evening game as they don’t run a late service. There are taxis, of course.
Walking – park in Nailsworth (all parking is free, but watch out for any time restrictions) and walk up the hill (a bit of a climb!) to the stadium (1.1 miles).
Driving – The club address is The Bolt New Lawn, Another Way, Nailsworth, GL6 0FG. Beware driving too close to the ground because the roads peter out and you can caught in a jam on busy matchdays. The road is occasionally closed on the busiest matchdays about 400m from the ground to allow coach parking and for Park & Ride buses to access. There is no available parking at the ground other than for disabled supporters. There is some street parking, but this can become pretty limited. A local farmer charges for parking in a field near the ground but this is unpredictable and only seems to operate when the field is dry enough! Traffic leaving the ground on busy matchdays can be a little congested, so allow time – once past Nailsworth, the traffic will move freely.
Cycling – cycle racks are available by The Green Man bar (and it’ll be downhill on the way out!)
Tickets
Unless it’s an all-ticket match you can buy tickets from the ticket office on the day (remember the stadium is cashless) or phone the ticket office on 0333 123 1889. If you buy tickets in advance via your club you get a discount and avoid the queues.
The prices for seating & standing respectively are below. The prices are £2 more if you buy on the day.
Adult – £21, £17
Over 65 – £17, £14
Under 21 – £13, £9
Under 16 (with an adult) – £7, £6
Under 11’s (with an adult) – £1
If the facility is available to you can go to fgr tickets to buy tickets online.
At the ground
Away supporters are usually in the West Stand (the Away Terrace on the plan). There is a small area of the Terrace (at the EESI Stand end) that has some covered seating and covered standing (be warned that there are 16 steps up to the away seating). The rest of the Terrace is standing and uncovered. It’s a good vantage point to watch the game but it’s worth checking the forecast. Bring your waterproof if there’s a chance of rain (hat and suncream if it’s warm)!
Food and Drink
There is a food and drink outlet in the away terrace inside the ground (this can get busy). There is a Fanzone just in front of the away turnstiles. This is for both home and away fans and includes the BrewDog bar (soft drinks and alcohol), vegan street food venues, barista coffee and live music. There are no pubs or cafes or shops or restaurants near the ground. There is a club bar but it’s too small to be able to fit in away fans (sorry!). The town of Nailsworth is small, but it has many food and drink outlets and free parking throughout the town (but be careful of time restrictions on some of this free parking). It’s a straightforward 1.1 mile walk from the centre of Nailsworth to the stadium, but it is uphill all the way!
Shop
There is a club shop on your right as you face the ticket office.
Some FAQ’s
Can I buy tickets on the day? Usually yes, if the away allocation isn’t sold out. They will be a little more expensive on the day. If you are picking up tickets, do this at the Ticket Office (contact the club in advance if picking up more than 30 tickets).
Do I need to sit in my allocated seat? There are only 100 seats for away supporters so, usually, yes.
What if I’m a supporter with a disability? There are 2 wheelchair + 2 carer seats for away supporters. There are 2 wheelchair parking bays allocated to these tickets. You must buy these through your own club. There is flat level access to these wheelchair seats which are pitchside and covered and in the East Stand (with home supporters). Apologies, but there isn’t wheelchair accessible access to the away stand.
Will the away coach be able to drop off close to stadium? Yes. Away supporter coaches can drop off at the roundabout outside the ground (leaving a level 100m walk). Coaches then will need to park offsite (some use the bus station in Nailsworth). 30mins before the final whistle, coaches must be parked on the road pointing down the hill. Visiting fans can then have a short and easy walk out of the ground to their coach.
Can we bring flags & drums etc? Space is limited in the away side of the ground so, unfortunately, these aren’t allowed.
Can I use cash? No, the stadium is cashless, and this includes all the Fanzone facilities.
Do I have to be vegan? No, but you’ll only find vegan food and drink while you are at the stadium. But I wouldn’t let this put you off. Some of our most die-hard meat-eating fans will tell you that the catering at The New Lawn is among the best you will find in a football ground.
Do you sell matchday Programmes? Apologies to those who collect them but the club haven’t printed matchday programmes for a number of seasons.
Longer visits
Whether you are planning an overnight or just making a full day of it, it’s easy to get that full Cotswold experience around Nailsworth.
Hotels – a selection below, all of these are very ‘Cotswold’!. For less expensive choices (that are a little further from the ground) the Premier Inn in Stroud is a good one (premier inn stroud) or the Travelodge in Stonehouse (Travel Lodge Stonehouse)
Egypt Mill Hotel, Nailsworth (about a mile from the ground) egypt mill
Wild Garlic Rooms, Nailsworth (about a mile from the ground) wild garlic
The Amberley Inn, (about 2 miles from the ground) the amberley inn
The Bear of Rodborough (about 2.5 miles from the ground) the-bear-of-rodborough
The Old Lodge (about 2.5 miles from the ground) – the old lodge
Things to do
Visit Stroud Market on Saturdays 9 till 2 – the original farmers market – vibrant and busy. Nailsworth also has a farmers’ market from 9 till 1.30 on the 4th Saturday of each month stroud market
Have a look at the unfinished Gothic splendour of Woodchester Mansion woodchestermansion
On a dry day, check out the ice-cream factory on the National Trust’s Rodborough Common icecreamfactory
A little further afield (but within about 10 miles) you will find Gloucester, Cirencester, Tetbury, Cheltenham, Slimbridge & Berkeley Castle
Nailsworth’s Egypt Mill Hotel
Woodchester Mansion