Scunthorpe travel to Forest Green Rovers this Sunday in the first round of the 2014-15 FA Cup.
The game represents the first time United have ever met Rovers, who currently play in the Vanarama Conference.Adrian Pennock’s side are based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, and earned their place in the first round proper following a 4-1 victory over Gloucester City.
The New Lawn…
The ground is situated on the western edge of the Cotswold town of Nailsworth and the name Forest Green is taken from the area of the town where the clubs home is found.
The ground is sited on top of a steep hill and has hosted the club’s home games since the beginning of the 2006-07 campaign when Rovers moved from their Old Lawn ground which has now been redeveloped for housing.
It is made up of four stands, the most dominating of which is the Western Thermal 2,000 all seated capacity stand and has a cantilever roof as well as row of executive boxes running across the back.
Opposite is a small open terrace, which is only seven steps high and running along the back of this terrace are four floodlight pylons. The team dugouts are also located at this side of the pitch.
Both ends have to different degrees been relocated from the Old Lawn to the new ground. The Nympsfield Road end is a covered terrace and the roof of which came from the Barnfield Road side of the old ground.
This is where Iron fans will be located and can hold up to 900 away supporters. In addition, around 250 seats are made available in the North Stand.
Behind the other goal is the EESI Stand, which until recently was a covered all seated stand, but has now had the seats removed to make it a terrace for home fans. This stand is of interest as it was the Trevor Horsley Stand which was transported from the club's old ground and re-erected at the New Lawn.
In terms of pre-match refreshments, the Village Inn is situated on the A46 on the north side of the town and there are some other pubs and food outlets at the bottom of the hill in Nailsworth, which is about a 15 minute walk from the ground.
Getting there by car…
Starting from Glanford Park, take the A18 to the M181 and from there follow the M180, M18 and M1 to the A42 in Leicestershire, taking exit 23A from the M1.
Continue onto the A42 for around 14 miles and then follow the M42 and M5 to the A419 in Gloucestershire for 90 miles or so and take exit 13 from the M5.
Continue on the A419 and take the A46 to Nympsfield Road in Nailsworth.
You will then go through four roundabouts. Take the 1st exit at the first, the 3rd exit at the next, the 1st exit at the one after (all should lead you to the A419) and then at the final roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Dudbridge Hill.
Then continue onto Dudbridge Road for half a mile before taking a slight right onto Bath Road/A46 and drive around three miles before taking the 3rd exit at the next roundabout onto Spring Hill.
Continue onto Nympsfield Road for around three quarters of a mile before going through one final roundabout and the ground can be seen on the left.
Getting there by train…
Please note that there isn’t a train station in Nailsworth itself. The nearest is in Stroud which is around three miles away from the New Lawn. Also, please not there is no way of getting there in time for kick-off by train from Scunthorpe on the day.
If you are planning to travel down on the Saturday, trains are available at 19 minutes past the hour from 8:19am until 17:19pm where again you should follow the exact same route as below.
Leave Scunthorpe station at 10:08am and head on the Transpennine Express service to Sheffield, where you should arrive at 11:08am. You’ll then have a 49 minute wait before hopping on the Crosscountry service to Cheltenham Spa.
You should arrive there at 13:51pm before a 55 minute wait until catching the 14:46pm First Great Western train to Stroud where you should reach your destination at 15:19pm.
After the game, undertake the above route again in reverse beginning with the journey from Stroud to Cheltenham Spa at 16:30pm and getting back into Scunthorpe for 21:02pm.
Enjoy the game!
Postcode: GL6 0ET