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And so it came to pass. County had descended into non-league after a cataclysmic fall from a play off win to two relegations – all in the space of 36 months. The fixture list came out and our first game outside the Football League in 106 years sent us to Forest Green. Where the hell is that was the cry. As it turns out the address called it Nailsworth, albeit that the satnav had great difficulty locating it. At one stage after being directed off the M6 we found ourselves down narrow country lanes and a despairing feeling that the electronic aide had once again failed us, as it had on a trip to Huish Park a couple of years earlier. Then appearing over e hedge was a set of floodlights, (no doubt wind driven given the green predilections of the FGR owner – but far more about all that kind of stuff when I come to pen a piece on the New Lawn). We had found it.

It was a Friday night game. The Premier Sports planners had decided that we were the team to follow as part of their coverage of the Blue Square Premier – this was the first of four times we were to feature in the opening three months of the season. Settling down in the South Stand the pre-match kick about was a case of identifying the new players. Of the 16 on view only 3 had been with us the previous season, and two of those, (Ian Ormson and Andy Halls), were on the bench, with Matty Glennon being the only starter. It was a first view of 13 players, and the vast proportion of those failed to see even half a season. Did Hamann took charge for the first time – he barely made it until November! The game was a sign of things to come.

Those who thought the the Blue Square would be a canter were soon disabused. Rovers took a 21st minute lead through Reece Styche. He was to prove a thorn in the County side over the next few years facing us 7 times and hitting the target on 6 occasions as we came across him at Tamworth; Darlington and Alfreton as well. It took until deep in the second half before Nick Chadwick pulled us level. Leaving the ground it felt like a disappointment, but that was feeling that was to recur plenty of times in the forthcoming months.

It was the first game in the Blue Square – I can say I was there and indeed at 90 of the following 91 before the drop into regional football, (missing only the game at Kenilworth Road in March 2013). Little did I or indeed any of the decent County following that night know what was to lie ahead…..

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Memories of trips to The New Lawn

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THE GAMES

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Where the date is in bold click for highlights of the game

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	Date	Venue	Ground	Competition		F	A	Att:
Fri	12/08/11	a	The New Lawn	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	D	1	1	1,848
Sat	22/10/11	h	Edgeley Park	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	L	0	1	3,391
Sat	10/11/12	a	The New Lawn	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	L	1	4	1,176
Sat	19/01/13	h	Edgeley Park	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	W	2	1	2,802

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