There are a number of players who come to mind when you talk about 'best ever' players, but there is one who was so influential to the growth of the club. It has to be Steve Doughty, who arrived from Frampton FC to Forest Green and fitted in to a team of seasoned players who produced their best ever season in 1981-82, as a goal scoring machine.
In 1982, as league champions, they went to Wembley and won the FA Vase, the first time that Rovers had got to a final at Wembley, and got promoted out of local football into 'The Southern League'. Two goals from striker Andy Leitch (who scored 10 goals in the cup run) and skipper Kenny Norman gave the then Hellenic League champions a deserved 3-0 victory against Rainworth Miners Welfare. Rovers had progressed to the final after winning through every round, including the preliminary against Worrall Hill 5-1. A 3-1 win against Old Down in the fourth round meant that Rovers had to face rivals Shortwood United, but a Steve Doughty strike put Rovers into the sixth round. Through to the semi-final, Rovers won the first-leg 4-1 with goals coming from Leitch and Doughty again, Mike Burns and Peter Higgins (pen). Blue Star came back to win the second-leg 1-0 at The Lawn but Rovers progressed 4-2 on aggregate.They had disposed of three previous finalists in Willenhall Town, Blue Star and Almondsbury Greenway on their way to the Wembley.
Steve stayed with the club for more than 10 years including the grimmest times and always stayed loyal. He remained based in Forest Green and later played for Newport County and Shortwood United and has managed local sides Whitminster and Kings Stanley and works in engineering.
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