March 7, 2020. That was the last time Forest Green played in front of a jam-packed crowd. 9,758 watched Rovers shock table-toppers Swindon Town at the County Ground with a 2-0 win.
That was to be Rovers’ last competitive action for six months. Other than a pilot event against Bradford and two games in December, both with a very limited capacity, the Green Army haven’t returned to watch their side.
So how have Forest Green coped without fans?
Since September 5, 2020 (the first game behind closed doors):
17 wins
11 draws
11 defeats
Sitting third in Sky Bet League Two, the stats suggest that Mark Cooper’s side have coped well in the absence of supporters.
When asked on the topic, Cooper said: “I don’t think it makes a difference, home or away. Home games don’t feel like home games and away games don’t feel the same. It’s a case of making sure you’re prepared to play wherever you play.”
Forest Green welcomed back around 800 fans for two home games in December against Cambridge United and Carlisle United, arguably two of their best performances of the season. They failed to win their next three home games in which fans were absent, suggesting that they make a huge difference.
Defender Udoka Godwin-Malife said after the Cambridge game that the fans helped the team to victory.
The defender said: “The fans made a big difference. It was good to have them back. When the stadium announcer said there was 800 (in attendance) I was kind of shocked, because it felt like there was way more than 800 there. It was a good atmosphere, and it’s almost like having an extra player on the pitch when they’re shouting behind you and cheering you on to win the game.”
Kane Wilson missed the games with fans due to being side-lined with injury. Joining the Nailsworth club in the summer of 2020, he is still yet to walk out in front of the Rovers faithful.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game against Harrogate Town, Wilson said: “It sounds weird, and I don’t know if anybody else has said it, but I’ve forgotten what it’s like to play with fans because it’s been that long.
“It’s sad really because when the fans are there cheering you on, it brings a completely different element to the game. It adds that extra pressure and a bit more ‘oomph’ into every match.
“It’s easy to gauge what’s happening in the game when there’s fans there. If there’s a cheer then you’ve done something well, if you do something bad then they boo. It’s really weird that the fans aren’t there, and actually really sad that it’s become the norm.
“Hopefully they come back for the end of the season to give us that final little kick over the line, but if it’s next season hopefully they can cheer us on in League One.”
