Chairman Horsley to stand down (From Stroud News and Journal)

Chairman Horsley to stand down

SATURDAY will mark the end of an era as Mr Forest Green Rovers calls time as chairman on his magical and inspiring 12 years of unprecedented success at the helm of this remarkable club.

There are not enough superlatives to sum up the impact that Rovers chairman Trevor Horsley has made.

In no uncertain terms Horsley's financial clout and influence has put Rovers on the football map. Rovers were a struggling Dr Martens Midland Division also-ran and close to bankruptcy when Horsley strolled through the gates in 1991.

Chairman at that time, Andy Coburn had already steadied the sinking ship and over seen the name change back to Forest Green Rovers after the ill-fated and short-lived period as Stroud FC.

"Andy invited me to a pre-season game in 1991 to watch Rovers play Cardiff City," recalled Horsley. The Yorkshireman was soon hooked and pulled off a master stroke by appointing the then unknown Frank Gregan as boss, in place of Geoff Medcroft.

"People said 'Frank who?' at the time," said Horsley. This question was quickly quashed as Gregan, with Horsley's backing, guided Rovers to back Dr Martens promotions to enter the Conference in 1998.

During those heady times the Trevor Horsley stand was built to replace the antiquated wooden seated stand in 1997 and was increased further to prepare for Rovers first taste of top non-league football.

The Horsley success story rolled on as Rovers reached Wembley in 1999 for the second time in their history, losing to Kingstonian in one of Horsley's most memorable moments.

Year 2000 saw Rovers escape from the trap door of relegation on the last day of the season. Rovers beat Kettering Town 2-0 with goals from Marc McGregor and Paul Hunt, but had to wait nervously at the Lawn for Altrincham's match to finish to be sure they stayed up.

In the end Altrincham, needing a victory to survive the drop, drew 0-0, leaving Rovers to stay up on goal difference to Welling on 47 points.

"That was nerve racking - that and Wembley stand out for me," said Horsley.

Gregan was sacked the following season to be replaced by joint caretaker managers Nigel Spink and David Norton, who took Rovers to their second FA Trophy final in 2001 that again ended in defeat, this time at Villa Park to Canvey Island.

Two then became one, with Spink taking sole control. Off the pitch more ground improvements began with the construction of the covered Barnfield Terrace.

Football can be tough and Horsley parted company with Spink after Rovers began the current campaign in wretched fashion, replacing him with former Athletico Madrid boss Colin Addison in September.

This move has certainly proved one of Horsley's shrewdest, with Rovers likely to gain their highest Conference finish since entering the league five years ago.

Horsley will take his seat in the stand named after him this Saturday for the last time as chairman in what Horsley called a difficult year that included the sad death of vice-chairman Carol Embrey and an acrimonious tribunal case with former striker Nathan Lightbody, who won a case for unfair dismissal last week which Horsley intends to appeal against.

"It has been great," he enthused. "Saturday will be difficult and I suspect the club has a few things up its sleeve."

Horsley is full of pride for his beloved club. "Ten years ago people wouldn't have believed what we have achieved but I always felt we could do it. As well as our success we have staged an international match and had a ladies FA cup semi final."

"Sometimes you need to take a step back to go forward I will remain an executive director and will oversee the relocation project to the new ground so we take the club further forward," added Horsley.

EURO ROVERS board are due to meet on Friday to discuss the new chairman to replace Trevor Horsley.

Current director John Clapp is favourite to succeed Horsley as chairman. Clapp is a former director of Bristol City and looks certain to take the top position.

Meanwhile, Gloucester City chairman Colin Gardner has denied rumours linking him with the role.

"I will be staying with Gloucester City," Gardner told the Journal on Sunday night.