WOOD WOULD BE GOOD, FOOD WON'T BE PUD

Forest Green Rovers have ploughed their own furrow amongst the rich soils of the National League and you may have read the blog below about FGR and the club's environmentalism. Owner, Dale Vincent, is a leader in this field.
Yes the grass is always greener at FGR a small village near Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/eco-power-will-keep-rovers-charged.html

Formed in 1889 by the local Nonconformist Church, the club joined the Mid Gloucestershire League in 1894. A hundred years later the club grew in stature and won the FA Vase and Hellenic League titles in 1981-2. They were finalists in the FA Trophy 1998-9 and 2000-1.

The club plays at the New Lawn at the moment near their original ground The Lawn. They are top of the Vanarama National league, ahead of Lincoln City by 7 points, having lost twice and drawn four times in 19 games.

FGR makes the news through its environmentalism and is a member of the "Ecological Management and Audit Scheme". It is known for its strict club food rules (see previous blog), its "Sustainability in Sport" Terrace, the organic pitch, solar panels (contributing to 10% of the ground's energy needs) and the Robot lawn Mower. In 2012 the club was given the Institute of Groundsmanship award. The ground presently has a pub The Green man", a gym, dance studio, conference facilities and seven hospitality boxes.

All this is about to change though as there are plans to build an all wooden stadium as a centre piece to an Eco Park development, just off the M5. The company Zaha Hadid Architects who built the 2012 Olympic Aquatic Stadium and who are also responsible for one of the Qatar World Cup stadia, were awarded the contract. The facility will include the club stadium, training pitches and a sports science hub and is worth £100 million.

About 4,000 jobs are to be created with businesses sited alongside the football club. Dale Vince's company Ecotricity will be on site, needless to say.