# 2023–24 Forest Green Rovers F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 135th season in the history of Forest Green Rovers and their first season back in League Two since the 2021–22 season following their relegation from League One in the previous season. The club are participating in League Two, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.

## Current squad

    As of 9 February 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Luke Daniels | GK | Bolton | (1988-01-05) 5 January 1988 (age 37) | Middlesbrough | 14 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 20 | Jamie Searle | GK | Whakatāne | (2000-11-25) 25 November 2000 (age 24) | Barnsley | 22 July 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 31 | Tommy Simkin | GK | | (2004-12-08) 8 December 2004 (age 20) | Stoke City | 12 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 39 | Vicente Reyes | GK | Charleston | (2003-11-19) 19 November 2003 (age 21) | Norwich City | 13 February 2024 | Loan | 20 February 2024 |
| 41 | Fiachra Pagel | GK | | (2004-02-16) 16 February 2004 (age 20) | Drogheda United | 2 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Marcel Lavinier | RB | London | (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 (age 24) | Swindon Town | 3 August 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 3 | Dom Bernard | CB | Gloucester | (1997-03-29) 29 March 1997 (age 27) | Birmingham City | 17 July 2019 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 4 | Darnell Johnson | CB | Leicester | (1998-09-03) 3 September 1998 (age 26) | Fleetwood Town | 4 August 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 5 | Ryan Inniss | CB | Penge | (1995-06-05) 5 June 1995 (age 29) | Charlton Athletic | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 15 | Jordan Moore-Taylor | CB | Exeter | (1994-01-21) 21 January 1994 (age 31) | Milton Keynes Dons | 21 July 2020 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 16 | Dominic Thompson | LB | Willesden | (2000-07-26) 26 July 2000 (age 24) | Blackpool | 12 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 17 | Jamie Robson | LB | Perth | (1997-12-19) 19 December 1997 (age 27) | Lincoln City | 6 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 19 | Sean Robertson | RB | Wandsworth | (2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 (age 23) | Crystal Palace | 4 August 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 25 | Fankaty Dabo | RB | Southwark | (1995-10-11) 11 October 1995 (age 29) | Coventry City | 1 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 36 | Richard Keogh | CB | Harlow | (1986-08-11) 11 August 1986 (age 38) | Wycombe Wanderers | 9 February 2024 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 44 | Murphy Bennett | RB | Stockport | (2004-12-23) 23 December 2004 (age 20) | Manchester City | 1 July 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| | Keon Sanniola | CB | | | Academy | 5 September 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 8 | Charlie McCann | DM | Coventry | (2002-04-24) 24 April 2002 (age 22) | Rangers | 24 January 2023 | £300,000 | 30 June 2026 |
| 18 | Jacob Maddox | AM | Bristol | (1998-11-03) 3 November 1998 (age 26) | Walsall | 7 August 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 21 | Alex Rodríguez | CM | Tenerife | (1993-08-01) 1 August 1993 (age 31) | Oxford United | 12 January 2024 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 22 | Maxi Oyedele | DM | Salford | (2004-11-07) 7 November 2004 (age 20) | Manchester United | 17 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 26 | David Davis | CM | Smethwick | (1991-02-20) 20 February 1991 (age 33) | Shrewsbury Town | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 27 | Harvey Bunker | DM | Portsmouth | (2003-04-15) 15 April 2003 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2020 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 28 | Callum Jones | CM | Birkenhead | (2001-04-05) 5 April 2001 (age 23) | Hull City | 1 July 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 29 | Reece Brown | CM | Dudley | (1996-03-03) 3 March 1996 (age 28) | Huddersfield Town | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 32 | Jack Carter | CM | | | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 34 | Zach McKenzie | CM | | | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 40 | Fin Bell | CM | | | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 46 | Emmanuel Osadebe | RM | Dundalk | (1996-10-01) 1 October 1996 (age 28) | Bradford City | 18 January 2024 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 51 | Jesse Thompson | CM | | (2005-11-29) 29 November 2005 (age 19) | Reading | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| — | Dylan Kadji | DM | | (2003-09-01) 1 September 2003 (age 21) | Bristol City | 4 August 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 7 | Kyle McAllister | RW | Paisley | (1999-01-21) 21 January 1999 (age 26) | St Mirren | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 9 | Matty Stevens | CF | Guildford | (1998-02-12) 12 February 1998 (age 26) | Peterborough United | 27 July 2019 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 10 | Christian Doidge | CF | Newport | (1992-08-25) 25 August 1992 (age 32) | Hibernian | 31 January 2024 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 11 | Jordon Garrick | RW | Kingston | (1998-07-15) 15 July 1998 (age 26) | Swansea City | 5 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 23 | Tyrese Omotoye | CF | Hasselt | (2002-09-23) 23 September 2002 (age 22) | Norwich City | 23 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 24 | Olly Sully | CF | | (2005-09-08) 8 September 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 5 September 2023 | — | 30 June 2024 |
| 37 | Nathan Holland | LW | Manchester | (1998-06-19) 19 June 1998 (age 26) | Milton Keynes Dons | 24 August 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 6 | Teddy Jenks | CM | Brighton | (2002-03-12) 12 March 2002 (age 22) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 12 | Alfie Bendle | CM | | (2005-01-27) 27 January 2005 (age 19) | AFC Wimbledon | 9 August 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| — | Amadou Bakayoko | CF | Kenema | (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 29) | Bolton Wanderers | 12 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | From | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Ryan Inniss | Charlton Athletic | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CM | Teddy Jenks | Brighton & Hove Albion | Free Transfer |
| 14 July 2023 | GK | Luke Daniels | Middlesbrough | Free Transfer |
| 17 July 2023 | CF | Matty Taylor | Oxford United | Free Transfer |
| 22 July 2023 | GK | Jamie Searle | Barnsley | Undisclosed |
| 3 August 2023 | RB | Marcel Lavinier | Swindon Town | Undisclosed |
| 4 August 2023 | CB | Darnell Johnson | Fleetwood Town | Free Transfer |
| 7 August 2023 | AM | Jacob Maddox | Walsall | Free Transfer |
| 9 August 2023 | CM | Alfie Bendle | AFC Wimbledon | Free Transfer |
| 17 August 2023 | CF | Troy Deeney | Birmingham City | Free Transfer |
| 24 August 2023 | LW | Nathan Holland | Milton Keynes Dons | Undisclosed |
| 1 September 2023 | RB | Fankaty Dabo | Coventry City | Free Transfer |
| 12 January 2024 | CM | Alex Rodríguez | Oxford United | Free Transfer |
| 18 January 2024 | RM | Emmanuel Osadebe | Bradford City | Undisclosed |
| 31 January 2024 | CF | Christian Doidge | Hibernian | Undisclosed |
| 9 February 2024 | CB | Richard Keogh | Wycombe Wanderers | Free Transfer |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Alfie Burnett | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Baily Cargill | Mansfield Town | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Regan Hendry | Tranmere Rovers | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LB | Jacob Jones | Cove Rangers | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Luke McGee | Tranmere Rovers | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Dylan McGeouch | Carlisle United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Sean O'Brien | Hayes & Yeading United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Ben Stevenson | Portsmouth | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Lewis Thomas | Free agent | Released |
| 6 July 2023 | GK | Ross Doohan | Aberdeen | Undisclosed |
| 6 July 2023 | CM | Armani Little | AFC Wimbledon | Undisclosed |
| 25 July 2023 | RB | Corey O'Keeffe | Barnsley | Undisclosed |
| 3 August 2023 | CB | Udoka Godwin-Malife | Swindon Town | Undisclosed |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Matty Taylor | Cheltenham Town | Free Transfer |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Date until |
| 1 July 2023 | CM | Callum Jones | Hull City | End of Season |
| 4 August 2023 | DM | Dylan Kadji | Bristol City | End of Season |
| 10 August 2023 | CB | Reece Welch | Everton | 3 January 2024 |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Callum Morton | Salford City | End of Season |
| 30 September 2023 | GK | James Belshaw | Bristol Rovers | 7 October 2023 |
| 12 January 2024 | GK | Tommy Simkin | Stoke City | End of Season |
| 12 January 2024 | LB | Dominic Thompson | Blackpool | End of Season |
| 17 January 2024 | DM | Maxi Oyedele | Manchester United | End of Season |
| 13 February 2024 | GK | Vicente Reyes | Norwich City | 20 February 2024 |
* ↑ On 3 January, Welch was recalled back by Everton from his season-long loan.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 27 July 2023 | CF | Amadou Bakayoko | Dundee | End of Season |
| 25 January 2024 | CM | Teddy Jenks | Ross County | End of Season |
| 2 February 2024 | CM | Alfie Bendle | Eastbourne Borough | 1 March 2024 |

## Pre-season and friendlies

On 7 June, FGR announced four pre-season fixtures, against Melksham Town, Coventry City, Everton Under-21s and Plymouth Argyle. A fifth was later added, against West Bromwich Albion.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League Two | Matchday 1 | | 32 | 5 | 8 | 19 | 32 | 60 | −28 | 015.63 |
| FA Cup | First round | Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 050.00 |
| EFL Cup | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 000.00 |
| EFL Trophy | Group stage | Second round | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 025.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | 39 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 41 | 70 | −29 | 017.95 |
Last updated: 17 February 2024 Source: Soccerway

### League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 19 | Swindon Town | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 77 | 83 | −6 | 54 | |
| 20 | Salford City | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 66 | 82 | −16 | 51 | |
| 21 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 57 | 74 | −17 | 49 | |
| 22 | Colchester United | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 59 | 80 | −21 | 45 | |
| 23 | Sutton United (R) | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 59 | 84 | −25 | 42 | Relegated to National League |
| 24 | Forest Green Rovers (R) | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 44 | 78 | −34 | 42 | Relegated to National League |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 20 April 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 21 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | W | L | L | D | W | L | L | L | L | L | L | W | P | L | W | L | D | D | L | L | D | L | L | D | D | L | D | L | D | L | W | L | W | D | L | W | W |
| Position | 22 | 13 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | — | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 |

#### Matches

On 22 June, 2023 the EFL League Two fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

#### Postponed matches
### FA Cup

Forest Green Rovers were drawn away to Scarborough Athletic in the first round. This match was played three times before a winner was confirmed by the Football Association, due to Forest Green Rovers fielding an ineligible player, under rule 109 of the FA Cup competition rules, in the original tie which ended in a 1-1 Draw. The player was on loan with Forest Green Rovers, but they had not received permission from the parent club to play him in the FA Cup. The FA ordered the match to be replayed on 6 December. This caused a knock-on effect of the second round tie against Blackpool being postponed until the original first round match had been replayed. The match against Blackpool was originally scheduled for 2 December 2023, and subsequently played on 19 December 2023

#### Void matches
### EFL Cup

FGR were drawn at home to Portsmouth in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

In the group stage, Forest Green were drawn into Southern Group A along with Walsall, Shrewsbury Town and Brighton & Hove Albion U21. After topping the group, Forest Green Rovers were drawn at home to Oxford United.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L2 | Forest Green Rovers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | ACA | Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L1 | Shrewsbury Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 5 | |
| 4 | L2 | Walsall | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 1 | |
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures