Heroes from the 1990s - Russell Wilton, Rob Cook, Alex Sykes, Mike Kilgour, Gary Smart

Whereas the 1980s had started brightly and then faded, the opposite was true for the 1990s. Stroud FC were on the edge of oblivion at the start of the decade but some semblance of order was returned when the name changed back to Forest Green Rovers in May 1992.

 

Russell Wilton served the Club through its darkest days from 1988 until 1994 and was a true Club man through and through along with his family. He played under the Stroud FC banner against Wrexham in the Welsh Cup Quarter Final and in an FA Trophy run that ended in the third round against Northwich Victoria, both matches taking place in February 1991 making that month a highlight in the early years of the decade.

 

Trevor Horsley and Colin Peake brought fresh legs to the Club Boardroom in 1992 and with the arrival of manager Frank Gregan in 1994 a fresh squad of players was drafted in, including Paul Hunt (see legends section).

 

The new squad were gelling together by 1996 and a truly remarkable period in the Club’s History started to unfold. The Southern League Southern Division and then The Premier Division were taken by storm and in 1998 Conference National League Football arrived at Forest Green against the likes of Doncaster Rovers.

 

Rob Cook joined the team in 1994 having supported the Club all his life, and played right through all the Leagues and on into Rovers’ Conference National years. He was joined by Alex Sykes in 1995, the year that Mike Kilgour also returned to the Club, and the three players formed a strong nucleus of a closely nit squad that brought glory to Rovers and a new horizon in the Conference.

 

The first season in the Conference saw a dream finish in 12th place and a second visit to Wembley in the FA Trophy Final, unfortunately ending with a 1-0 defeat to Kingstonian. Gary Smart had booked the Wembley visit with a memorable goal against St Albans in the semi final at The Lawn at the end of a comeback from 2-0 down at half time to win the game 3-2.

 

The 1990s had seen a meteoric rise up the football ladder and National Football for the new millenium, a far cry from the aspirations of the Brinkworth Boys a Century before.