Forest Green can look back to a season genuine progress and establishment between the forces to be reckoned with in the non-league during the last 12 months. The Gloucester outfit had two miraculous escapes from the drop over the previous two seasons but were determined to have a more stable campaign this time around with the backing of local businessman Dave Vince and Dave Hockaday indeed built the squad early in the summer with some impressive captures like Al Bangura and Chris Todd while fending off the interest of Luton towards top striker Reece Styche. Indeed, the season got off to a very good start with a 1:1 draw away at Luton and a superb 6:1 win on the road at Alfreton. The home form was not so impressive though and a few disappointing results in September kept the team decidedly in mid-table. Moreover, Todd and Styche suffered serious knee injuries early in the campaign while Bangura never really had a good run of games due to persistent problems with knee and thigh injuries. However, the team found a good run of form in late October and early November and stationed themselves as one of the teams just below the play-off places. A few impressive results, like a 3:1 victory at Southport really lifted the spirits in the camp. However, the team hit a rough patch of form in December and went on a run of more than a month without scoring a goal. That poor run really hit the hopes of play-off spot but just when it looked like a meaningless second half of the season awaits when they will only sit in mid-table, a shock 1:0 win over Wrexham gave the team a real confidence boost and renewed belief. Comeback wins over direct rivals Gateshead and Cambridge further boosted their chances and the team now looked full of flair and goals thanks to Yan Klukowski and James Norwood while Eddie Oshodi and January signing Sam Russell, who was on goal, were providing more solidity at the back. Forest Green never managed to get into the top five but for a while in March they were floating very close to these places and a few good results against top teams, a 2:1 win away at Wrexham and a 3:0 victory at home to Luton, provided a good momentum towards the final few games of the season. At the end of the day they did not have enough but played some impressive attacking football throughout and the potential is there for a very good campaign next season.
