Forest Green Rovers have signed goalkeeper Joe Wollacott on loan from Championship side Bristol City for the 2019/20 season.

The 22-year-old academy graduate at Ashton Gate will add competition to Adam Smith and Lewis Thomas for the keeper’s spot at The New Lawn.

Having spent time on loan at Gloucester City last season in the National League South, the young English stopper is now hoping to have a positive impact on his new surroundings, having met his new teammates for the first time yesterday ahead of Saturday’s trip to Walsall.

“I only found out on Monday but I am delighted and happy to be here and I can’t wait to get started,” Wollacott said.

“Play-offs is the minimum expectation this season and I’m just hoping that I can contribute, put in good performances and benefit the team in that goal.

“There is only one position as a goalkeeper, so only one of us can play, but it is healthy to have three good keepers and they are a good bunch of lads who I had a good session with yesterday.

“I spoke to the manager and it was no brainer. They are a really ambitious club, an interesting style of play and it’s a move that is going to benefit me as well.

“The modern goalkeeper now, using your feet is part of the game and in terms of development for myself, it is perfect.”

Having joined Bristol at the age of 13, Wollacott was a regular in the Bristol City Under 23 side, including every match of their successful Central League Cup (South) run in the 2016/17 season.

He enjoyed loan spells at Bath City and Norwegian side Bergosy before joining Woking in December 2017, having signed a two-year deal with an option of a further year just four months prior.

Yet to make his first team debut for the Robins, he helped Truro City to the National League South play-offs during the 2017/18 campaign before joining Gloucester last November and was named on the substitutes’ bench for Bristol’s Championship season opener against Leeds United last Sunday.

Wollacott trained with Forest Green for the first time yesterday at Stanley Park and will be given squad number 13.