FIVE years ago Ecotricity boss Dale Vince sped into the New Lawn on his Ducati motorbike wearing ripped jeans, T-shirt and sporting long hair, life at Forest Green was never going to be the same.

On the brink of administration, he stepped in and imported his unconventional ways on the club from day one.

Utterly left-field, Vince quickly banned red-meat, a move that hardly curried favour with the locals, who were offered veggie burgers instead.

Even a new club badge and kit design had the stalwarts spitting feathers.

The road to the ground was named Another Way and an organic pitch took root. Players swapped petrol-guzzling cars for electric ones.

Strides off the pitch failed to transfer to the pitch despite an attacking brand of tiki-taka football under the coaching nous of then boss David Hockaday.

New boss Ady Pennock raised the bar last season as Rovers finished in the top five of the National League table for the first time in their history before coming up short against Bristol Rovers in the play- offs.

His latest plans include a proposed move to a new £100m football and green eco business park near Stonehouse by 2020. The future looks green for Forest Green.

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Dale Vince and Forest Green boss Ady Pennock    Pic: Ashley Loveridge

Five years on and Vince remains as focussed as ever on the aim to get Rovers into the Football League.

The journey continues for Rovers in their opening Vanarama National League opener at Altrincham on Saturday Vince believes the squad assembled by Pennock can go one better during the upcoming campaign.

Pennock has drafted in defender and captain-elect Darren Jones and striker Aaron O’Connor from Newport County, Lincoln City striker Delano Sam-Yorke, former Barnet winger Keanu Marsh-Brown and goalkeeper Jonny Maxted from Hartlepool.

Vince said: “Ady has added to an already very good squad.

“I like to improve everything I do, make it better than before. Promotion seemed like a very natural ambition and it must be the most natural ambition in football to get promoted.”

Vince isn’t worried about the teams around Rovers, but expects Grimsby Town to make a strong challenge for the title.

“Grimsby will be strong and Cheltenham maybe, but I am not worried about other teams - I think we can win the league.”

Despite coming up short against Bristol Rovers in the play-offs, Vince felt the experience will benefit his side this season.

“It was brilliant to get to the play-offs and I didn’t really mind about the results. It was a big step forward for us after finishing 10th for three seasons in a row, so to make fifth was a big leap to get in the play-offs, and it was a good experience but this season will be better.”

Despite only two wins from eight pre-season matches, Pennock is ready for the opener at Altrincham.

He said: “I am champing at the bit. I am glad pre-season is over and we can play proper games –you don’t win anything in pre-season.

“Altrincham play good football and it’s a difficult place to go. They have added experience to their squad in striker Michael Rankine and in this league you never get an easy game.”

Pennock is delighted with his summer signings and says he isn’t intending to add to his squad.

“I am delighted with the business we did over the summer and will only add to the squad if injuries force the issue.”

Goalkeeper Steve Arnold could come into contention and Rob Sinclair (groin) is expected to be fit.

Rovers welcome Welling to the New Lawn on Tuesday, 7.45pm.