AS FOREST Green Rovers prepare for the start of the pre-season, this week the SNJ looks back to when the club were preparing for their first ever game at The New Lawn ten years ago.

A crowd of 1,400 packed into the new £4 million stadium to see the Nailsworth-based club go down 3-2 against a strong Swindon Town side.

The new ground was the result of 12 months of hard work by the Forest Green Regeneration Group, consisting of FGR, Nailsworth Town Council, Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Nailsworth Primary School.

Carrying on a tradition set by supporters back in the 1950s, the new stadium was painted from head to toe by fans, all on a voluntary basis.

“It has been a team effort,” said general manager Robin Eaves.

“We wanted to involve the community as much as possible and have created something we can all be proud of.”

The initial 4,000 capacity was to be increased by a further thousand when work on The Trevor Horsley Stand was complete.

Rovers kicked off the new era against a Swindon Town side including former Chelsea stars Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet and were looking forward to another prestigious friendly against Sunderland in their second match at the ground.

The move saw FGR relocate just 400 yards from their former ground, the Lawn, which they had been based at since they were first founded.