Every month, our scribe, Neil Munro, writes to Supporters Club members with all the news that’s worth reading. From time to time we publish an edited version of Neil’s e-mail. Neil is surprisingly open about the fact that his 2nd favourite team is Crystal Palace (in case you were wondering why Palace get so many column inches in his messages!).
4 December 2020 Our Supporters Club weekly e-mails are now monthly, normally the first weekend of the month. England ends Lockdown 2 with long hair and long queues at the hairdressers – Please stay safe! Use your 5 days over Christmas wisely! The Supporters Club committee wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Fans are Back at TiNL starting 12 December versus Cambridge About half the L2 teams are in Tier 2 and can have some supporters whereas the other half are either in Tier 3 or Wales and can’t have any supporters. My understanding, which may be wrong, is that :- New season tickets will be issued to season ticket holders. FGR will be announcing when these can be collected. Seats will be the same as the Bradford pilot for season ticket holders. Clubs can sell alcohol without food but FGR won’t. There will be no food outlets open but you can take your own food and non-alcoholic drinks. It is at club’s discretion whether masks are worn throughout the match – at FGR they will need to be worn. Supporters from Tier 3 areas e.g. South Gloucestershire and Bristol cannot attend. If you cannot attend then you can still stream the match. Temperatures will be taken on arrival. No away supporters. For official FGR advice click here:-
Fans are back: What you need to know (fgr.co.uk)
NEWS | Four match bundle and season ticket details announced (fgr.co.uk)
Fans at sporting events – what difference can crowds expect? – BBC Sport
Virtual Meet The Manager/ Fans Forum Link to watch the event from 17th November. https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/november-2020/watch-virtual-fans-forum-replay
| 05 December 3.00pm08 December 7:45pm (time changed from 7:00pm) | Harrogate (A)Oxford Utd (A) | League TwoPapa John EFL Trophy | |
| 12 December 3.00pm (return of supporters) | Cambridge (H) | League Two | |
| 15 December 7.45pm | Port Vale (A) | League Two | |
| 19 December 3.00pm | Carlisle (H) | League Two | |
| 26 December 1.00pm | Exeter (A) | League Two | |
| 29 December 7.45pm | Crawley (H) | League Two |
All FGR Fixtures here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/forest-green-rovers/scores-fixtures/2020-09
or here https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/august-2020/2020-21-league-two-fixtures-released
Individual FGR matches can be streamed. Click here https://www.fgr.co.uk/match-centre/fgr-live-video
£10 UK residents, £7 international supporters.
FA Cup matches don’t appear to be available for International Supporters to stream
Season ticket holders can watch home (not including Cup/Trophy matches) , but not away matches, for no additional charge.
Now season ticket holders just have to log on provided you have streamed a previous match.
Lady Magpie’s statistics web pages – https://www.forestgreenrovers.co.uk/
(Her facts are correct, mine sometimes need to be taken with a pinch of salt)
FGR Women Fixtures and Results
Library photo of a very good looking man presenting a cheque to FGR Women.
The Supporters Club have donated £1,000 to FGR Women to compensate them for the fact we are unable to organise fundraising Quiz Nights on their behalf. FGR Women’s Chairman, David Hennessy said “The Team is hugely grateful for the donation from the Supporter Club and the continued support from the FGR Club. The continued commitment from the Supporters Club and FGR has enabled the club to remain running through these difficult times. The money has been used to put in place COVID protection measures for players and coaches while also helping offset the cost of some training kit.”
FGR Women are currently top of their League having won all their matches. They have a few tough matches in the New Year against Frome Town and Swindon Town to ensure they remain at the top. You can follow their progress and get future fixture details of the South West Regional Women’s Football League Eastern Division here. The Team play home matches on Sundays at Chalford Sports Club (GL6 8LZ) with kick off at 1400.
Unlike the Men’s team FGR Women’s Training and Matches were on hold during Lockdown 2. Given the proximity to Christmas and the lack of training availability, the League has decided to postpone all other league matches until after Christmas. The first match is planned for the Sunday 10 January 2021-subject to Govt restrictions. Spectators are more than welcome at all the Women’s Matches with COVID measures in place for Track and Trace etc. Details of the first match in the New Year will be published over the holidays.
If you can’t make the match the FGR Social Media Team will be posting Match Reports from the games on Social Media and the FGR Club Website as well.
Taylor Allen has joined National League North side Leamington on a one-month loan deal.
The 20-year-old makes the move to the New Windmill Ground to link up with Paul Holleran’s men starting 28 November.
Allen previously had loan spells with Hereford, Gloucester City and Hednesford Town, where he spent one-month on loan during October.
Forest Green Rovers youngster Jack Evans has joined National League South side Hungerford Town on a one-month loan.
The Blackburn Rovers academy graduate, who can play left-back or in central midfield, will link up with the Crusaders until the new year.
Evans, 20, featured in every match as FGR secured qualification to the next round of the Papa John’s Trophy, finishing second in Group E.
Tav Campbell (32 FGR appearances) joins Gloucester City, aka FGR old boys, on loan from Cheltenham Town.
He scored on his debut although Gloucester, currently top of their league, lost to Farsley Celtic. I remember years ago when FGR played Farsley they had more players than supporters.
I always felt sorry for Tav as he and George Williams had just started a good understanding and were scoring goals which was then interrupted by the return of Doidge from Bolton.
James Rowe the Gloucester City manager has left to take over at Chesterfield. Scott Lindsey has been mentioned by the Citizen newspaper as a possible replacement, I’m not sure what the basis for that is though..
Greenock Morton go Veggie!
Click here for more information:- Greenock Morton Football Club Is Scotland’s First To Ditch Meat From Diet (plantbasednews.org)
I feel a pre-season friendly coming on.
Morton are managed by David Hopkin who had 2 spells at C Palace.
His last minute goal against Sheffield United to win the Championship play off final at Wembley promoted C Palace to the Premier League and was voted Palace’s greatest ever goal.
In his second spell his blatant but fortunately unpunished foul in Palace’s own penalty area lead to C Palace’s last minute winner against Stockport County – scored by Dougie Freedman and voted their second greatest goal – which saved Palace from relegation from the Championship.
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Books as Possible Christmas presents
Gavin Bell is a former Times foreign correspondent who writes books about travel & football.Gavin Bell’s latest book – ‘Because it’s Saturday…a Journey into Football Heartlands’ :From the blurb – ‘How does a Cotswold village side owned by an ex-hippy challenge the likes of Luton for promotion.’The FGR chapter is an excellent piece and is very positive about FGR.He name checks all the people he talked to so you will recognise a few fellow FGR supporters. You can read an extract from the book on the FGR SC web site. To buy the book – https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/because-its-saturday———————–
Dale Vince’s book ‘Manifesto’. Chapter 11 is about FGR. Available from the club shop signed and with a personal message. https://forest-green-rovers.myshopify.com/collections/essentials/products/manifesto-dale-vince The book needs to be signed for. The friendly lady at Salmon Springs sorting office said she had enjoyed meeting all the FGR supporters. Some bargain books from the FGR shop
Sale Items – Page 2 – Forest Green Rovers (myshopify.com) Only £5 – SC member Tim Barnard’s book
Only £10 – Club photographer Shane Healey’s book
Only £5 – SC member Chris Gardner’s book
Not forgetting…
More Substitutes Allowed
Following consultation with Clubs, the EFL Board has agreed to increase the permitted number of substitutes to five in all Sky Bet EFL fixtures taking place from 12 noon on Friday 20 November for the remainder of the 2020/21 season.
Regulation 33.4 has been amended to permit:
- Championship Clubs to name up to nine substitutes in their match day squad, with five permitted to take to the pitch in any fixture.
- League One and League Two Clubs can name up to seven substitutes in their match day squad, again with five permitted to take to the pitch.
Might be a good time to clean up your old football boots.
FGR Academy
Thanks to Hannah Dingley, Head of FGR Academy, for the following:-
‘We have rebranded the old Skills Schools programme, aimed at U7s and U8s, as Forest Green Rovers Pre Academy and for the first time we have opened it to girls too in view to starting our girls Academy.
The Academy set up starts at U9 and goes all the way through to U18.
The boys between U9-U16, who are still at school, train in the evenings whilst the U18 are full time and train during the day.
If anyone knows a talented young player please let us know by emailing our Head of Recruitment, Chris Courtney, at Chris.Courtney@fgr.co.uk ‘
https://www.fgr.co.uk/teams/academy
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International FGR Supporters
Best wishes to all our international FGR supporters – please stay safe.
International FGR fans are now able to watch League matches Live! Find out more
Please send us your news.
The Supporters Club are planning to do more for FGR’s international supporters. We are in discussions with FGR. More information soon.
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SC Membership Secretary Vacancy – SC Membership tasks include –
- Maintain membership spreadsheet.
- Design & order membership cards.
- Write welcome letter & distribute membership cards, normally by post.
- Collect money/cheques, record & liaise with Treasurer.
- Write and send out monthly e-mail. SC Point of Contact. Respond to members e-mails & queries.
- Have a stock of Sympathy, Get Well cards (distribute when appropriate) and a good florist on speed dial.
If you are interested in joining the SC committee contact Ian Crawley – crawleyianx@gmail.com
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Launch of Talk Club FGR for men over 18 –
‘Simply giving men that join the group the tools to chat to your friends more openly and honestly about your everyday highs and lows. ‘
More details – https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/september-2020/community-launch-of-talk-club-fgr
If you want more information, please contact community@fgr.co.uk
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FGR Community Trust: Tackling Loneliness Together – Thanks to Sarah & Co. for the following
FGR Community are delighted to announce that we are to be part of a bigger project called Tackling Loneliness Together. We are now in a position to really advance our project Tackling Loneliness Together, and I attach a link below to our website article and also to the EFL (English Football League’s) Trust’s launch.
https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/august-2020/community-fgr-community-tackles-loneliness
We will continue to make phone calls, and will write letters and keep in touch with you as fans and can arrange for visits which could include a match day visit if you would like. We are hoping to arrange for some treats possibly afternoon teas at some point soon as well. If you would really like to engage in the project please get in contact, likewise if you do not wish to receive a call or correspondence from the community team please also let us know. We are also trying to reach those most in need in our local communities beyond the club, so if you know anyone in the Stroud district that would like to have a friendly chat or letter then please put them in touch with us, contact community@fgr.co.uk or ring 07419333746.
You that may like to volunteer or if you know anyone who you think would like to and benefit from being involved in the project. We are committed to this up until Christmas and then hope to continue by running some face to face sessions at the club and will seek additional funding/capacity to extend the longevity of the project.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch for more information.
Thank you Neil for helping share this amongst our FGR family.
Best wishes
Sarah
Sarah Urquhart
Head of FGR Community
Telephone: 07419333746 Email: sarah.urquhart@fgr.co.uk
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Supporters Club Membership 2020/21
Reminder – In view of the fact that last season was curtailed and the uncertainty as to whether spectators will be allowed into matches
It has been decided that last season and this season’s SC membership will be amalgamated i.e. Season 19/20 SC members don’t have to pay anything and will remain SC members for Season 20/21.
Please retain your current membership card.
Any new members will have to pay as normal. They will receive a membership card with the dates ‘Season 2019/20’
Anything posted to TiNL is unlikely to be collected for a while.
If you have a card with a photo of the TiNL with ‘Season 2019/20 on it then you are a member for season 20/21 too.
If you are uncertain if you were a member last season and therefore a member this coming season you can e-mail me for confirmation. Thanks for your support Best wishes,
Neil
FGR Supporters Club
PS Depending on what device, mail application etc. you read this on the formatting of these e-mails,
particularly the photos (which may not even appear at all, which isn’t always a bad thing) ,
sometimes goes a little , apologies for that.
awry
