"We deserve better" - Football community rallies to criticise Forest Green Rovers after shocking statement

The Gloucestershire football community have taken to social media to share their anger after Forest Green Rovers announced that their Women’s and Girls’ sections would be ending ahead of 2026/27 season.

Rumours had been circulated since the close season that Forest Green Rovers Women, who missed out on the South West Regional League Premier title last season by a point, were going to be folded and players were starting to look elsewhere if they wanted to continue playing in the new season.

On Tuesday morning Forest Green released a short statement under the header “FGR Women & Girls ETC Update” which has rightfully been criticised on social media, as well as the overall decision.

The statement on the website reads:

“We had been in discussions with Hartpury Uni about a partnership, but the Uni made a decision that ruled out the possibility of a joint team.
This means we’ll also be stepping back from our joint involvement with Hartpury’s Elite Training Centre for girls aged 9 to 16.
Our partnership with Hartpury has been worthwhile and valued, we’ll continue to support them as they explore ways to take the programme forward through Hartpury Women FC.
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.
This isn’t goodbye to women’s football at Forest Green.
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.
We’d like to thank the players, staff, volunteers and supporters who have been part of the women’s programme and wish them every success for the future.”

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Following the news, a number of supporters and individuals within the local football community have reacted to the unpopular decision.

I have just read with great disappointment your decision to pull the FGR women’s football team.

Like many other fans I would like to see the FGR men’s team do well, but at the expense of the women’s and girls teams? – no thanks.

Not the action of a progressive club
— Si Gale (@sn1gle) June 30, 2026

Horrendous decision who ever made this. To sack off an academy and now the women’s team. Feel bad for all the players.

Something not right at this club. https://t.co/ygNpkICsV2
— Dylan (@DylanFGRbanks) June 30, 2026

A number of tweets responding to the post pointed towards a 30+ player squad that Forest Green Rovers First Team had last season being a bigger factor in the club’s decision than the agreement with Hartpury coming to an end – particularly when the club had already scrapped their academy last season.

maybe you should've thought about this before signing three full 11's for non league football, whichever way you look at it, it's incompetence and unfortunately the Women and Girls take the brunt of it https://t.co/3uzE5u1GnG
— JoshTalksEFL (@JoshTalksEFL) June 30, 2026

This is disgraceful. Women’s Football is not a disposable asset within a club. It is as much a critical part of the club as the men’s team, and should always be treated as such. It should never be cast aside in the name of progress. https://t.co/TtQ19rYVaf
— Adam Salter 🌟🌟 (@Adam_Salter4) June 30, 2026

There has also been reaction from both former players and players who have been left without a club after years of service and a number of title challenges over the years – with these players only finding out from coaching staff earlier this week.

Shocked to see this delivered with such little class. Feel sorry for my ex teammates in what’s now an awful position to be in and horrified at the club 🙁 https://t.co/gd3VV6cvzR
— Charlie Rowlands (@charlieamyrowly) June 30, 2026

One point away from promotion last month. And to try and blame the place where we train and play is shocking. Have loved this team and can’t thank @FGRFC_Women staff and amazing team mates enough for the last two seasons 💚🖤 #wewerefgr https://t.co/B39IgOWmYw
— Soph (@SophiaMcGrath5) June 30, 2026

the irony of the hashtag… #WeAreFGR …we aren’t though, are we 😆 big thanks for this incredible write up that really holds the club accountable for making this decision 👏🏼
— hattie jones (@7_hattiejones) June 30, 2026

To give us zero communication until last week is crazy. They’ve left an entire squad with no club at the worst possible time. It’s clear we were never cared for, just treated as an after thought. We deserve better. https://t.co/fYWZD1c8dl
— Katie Jones (@JonesKatie_) June 30, 2026

Butler reflects on the news below:

Regardless of whether or not you agree with the decision from Forest Green to cease the partnership with Hartpury and ultimately scrap the Women’s and Girls’ teams within the club, what we can all agree on as non-league and grassroots football fans is that the way in which these decisions are handled and communicated tells you everything you need to know about where the club’s priorities are.

Forest Green will have their reasons, but the statement shifts the blame entirely and suggests they were left no other choice or had explored all possible options – when in all likelihood they haven’t.

I had heard meetings with the squad were due this week and rumours circulated that players had not heard anything from the football club following the final game of last season and based on the reactions of some of the players who played their part in a wonderful season for the Women’s side last season, it is quite clear that is the case.

It is another huge gamble for Forest Green, who were already under the microscope from the local football community after their decision to close their academy and release their young players.

Grassroots and non-league football clubs are supposed to be a focal point in their communities and part of that is to provide places to play for local players to play football and whilst it isn’t always possible to have multiple women’s or youth sides, it is abundantly clear that a club like Forest Green at National League level should be more than a one side club.

What always seems to shock me when clubs make decisions like this, is that the way some clubs handle the communication of their decisions in a cold, heartless way. The players, the coaches and volunteers who helped made the Women’s side what it was have been discarded without seemingly even being able to have their voices or opinions heard.

Shocked, but not surprised.