As Forest Green celebrate winning the League Two title, we spoke to Wembley FA Vase winner Steve Doughty, 40 years to the day that he helped put Rovers on the national stage.
A brace from Andy Leitch and a sublime chip from captain Kenny Norman handed Bob Mursell’s side a 3-0 Wembley victory over Rainworth Miners Welfare on Saturday, May 8th, 1982.
Doughty was a raw 21-year-old striker signed from Frampton, but four decades on, the now 61-year-old, said: “Forty years ago makes me feel old, but whenever a cup final or international comes on the television, I have a little smile and think back about playing at such a famous stadium.”
The Wembley win capped a remarkable season with Rovers landing the Hellenic Premier Division title.
Many of the Wembley squad of 1982 have since passed away, but Doughty still keeps in touch with a number of the team, including Andy Leitch and Peter Higgins.
Doughty, who lives a stone’s throw from the old Lawn, went on to have a stellar non-league career, going on to play for Newport County and west country rivals Cheltenham Town, but Forest Green will always remain close to his heart.
He added: “It’s pleasing to see the progression the club has made from winning the Vase to playing in League One next season, something unimaginable 40 years ago.”
