Heroes from the 1970s - Brian Coates, John Evans, Andy Bish, Derroll Loveday, Mike Bruton

Brian Coates had joined Rovers in the mid 1960s and stayed at the Club as they progressed from the Northern Senior League, through the County League and into the Hellenic League.  He moved from striker to full back and played in the first team until 1979.  His most memorable goal came to put Rovers 5-4 up against Blyth Spartans in 1975 in the Rothmans Cup, by far the highest ranked opposition the Club had played against at that time.  Rovers eventually lost the game on penalties after extra time.

 

John Evans joined at the end of 1973 and immediately brought extra flair to the team. Playing under Peter Goring he played in one of the most aThettacking teams seen at the Club for many years in their first season in the Hellenic League in 1975. He moved on to play at higher levels but returned to Forest Green Rovers as a player in 1984 and as Manager at their darkest hour under the “Stroud” banner to keep them away from relegation. A second spell as Manager in the early 1990s also saw him fire fighting to keep the Club in the Southern League on a shoestring budget. He has seen the highs and the lows of life with Rovers over his 20 year association with the Club.

 

Andy Bish and Derroll Loveday were also at the Club through the move from County to Regional football, Derroll from 1969 and Andy joining in 1972. By the time they moved on from the Club, Forest Green Rovers were a force to be reckoned with and securely in a position to move further up the football ladder.

 

Mike Bruton may well be the all time top scorer for Rovers in one season, when in 1975-76 he scored 82 goals, 69 of which were for the youth team.