Altrincham face Forest Green Rovers on Monday afternoon looking for their first points of the new National League season. The Robins, who sit 23rd in the table, have lost all three of their opening fixtures.
Neil Gibson's side welcome Robbie Savage's Forest Green to their ground for a 3pm kick-off on Bank Holiday Monday. The match was previewed by the outlet WE ARE FGR. Forest Green Rovers themselves are 19th in the league, having taken three points from their first four games with a record of one win and three losses. They have scored three goals and conceded six so far this campaign.
How has Altrincham started the season?
Altrincham's campaign could not have begun more poorly. They have zero points from three matches, leaving them in the relegation zone. Defeats to Southend United, Sutton United, and Boston United have set a difficult tone. The club brought in eleven new players over the summer to try and strengthen the squad. Key arrivals include forward Aidan Barlow, goalkeeper Owen Evans, midfielder Jack Hinchy, and striker Kristian Dennis. Manager Neil Gibson will be demanding a response from his team in front of their own fans.
Who is Altrincham manager Neil Gibson?
Neil Gibson took charge at Altrincham in October last year following Phil Parkinson's departure. He was initially appointed on an interim basis before his contract was made permanent in November. The 47-year-old Welshman previously managed Wealdstone in 2025. Before that, he had a long spell managing in the Cymru Premier with Connah's Quay Nomads, Flint Town United, and Prestatyn Town. His greatest achievement came in 2024 when he led Connah's Quay Nomads to victory in the Welsh Cup.
Who are Altrincham's key players?
Striker Jimmy Knowles is the main attacking threat for The Robins. The 25-year-old was the club's top scorer last season, netting 11 times in the National League and 16 across all competitions. Knowles joined Altrincham from Accrington Stanley in 2025. He made 21 appearances and scored two goals in League Two for Accrington. The season before that, he was prolific for Boston United, scoring 19 goals in the 2023-24 campaign as Boston won the National League North play-offs. He is now in his second season with Altrincham and will be central to their hopes of turning things around. Fans can check the profiles of Knowles and all the summer signings on the club's squad page.
What is the recent history between these teams?
The two sides have met several times in recent seasons, with closely contested matches. Last season, they played out a 1-1 draw at Forest Green in January, with Elliot Clarke scoring for Altrincham. Earlier in that campaign, in September 2025, Forest Green won 2-1 at Altrincham with goals from Jack Haughton and Oliver Inniss. The previous season saw another 1-1 draw at Altrincham in January 2024, with Christian Doidge scoring a late equaliser for FGR. Forest Green also won 2-1 at home in August 2024, with Doidge and Charlie McCann on target. The full history of fixtures between the clubs is available on our fixtures archive.
What comes next for Altrincham?
Monday's game is a chance for Altrincham to stop the rot and get their season moving. After the international break, their next scheduled league fixture is at home to Aldershot Town on October 10th. Aldershot are currently 9th in the table, presenting another tough challenge. The club, founded in 1891, needs to start picking up points quickly to climb away from the bottom four. The current league standings show they are already nine points behind early leaders Sutton United. Manager Gibson will be looking to his summer signings and top scorer Knowles to provide the spark needed for a much-improved performance and result.
