Forest Green Rovers have disbanded their women's team for the 2026-27 season, citing a need to concentrate resources on returning their men's side to the English Football League. The Gloucestershire club's women's team finished second in their regional division of the fifth tier last season, missing promotion by one point behind champions Torquay, and lost only one league match all season.
Club statement and partnership collapse
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Forest Green said they had been in discussions with Hartpury University about a partnership, but the university made a decision that ruled out a joint women's team. This also ends their involvement with Hartpury's elite training centre for girls aged nine to 16. The club insisted women's football would eventually return, saying: "We'd like to return to it in the future, when the time is right and when we can build a programme that is sustainable and successful for the long term."
Men's team focus
Forest Green's men's team, managed by former Wales and Leicester midfielder Robbie Savage, were relegated to the National League in 2024. They finished seventh last season but lost to Boreham Wood in the playoffs. The club's primary goal is to return to League Two as quickly as possible. A club spokesman said: "Forest Green Rovers is committed to returning to the EFL as quickly as possible and that means concentrating our resources and efforts on strengthening the Club and achieving that goal."
Hartpury University response
A Hartpury spokesperson said: "We've been proud to work alongside Forest Green Rovers to deliver the Emerging Talent Centre and support the development of girls' football in the region. Following Forest Green Rovers' decision not to operate a women's first team for the 2026-27 season, our priority is to explore how the Emerging Talent Centre can continue through our own successful Hartpury Women FC." The news comes nearly four weeks after the FA confirmed Forest Green Women's allocation into tier five for the upcoming season.
