Forest Green Rovers forward Harry Cardwell has completed a loan move to Southend United for the rest of the season. The 29-year-old striker reunites with his former club just days after Forest Green secured a 2-1 victory over Southend at The New Lawn.
Cardwell, who previously made 81 league appearances for Southend over two-and-a-half years, netting 27 goals, moved to Forest Green in August last year. During his time with the Rovers, he featured in 46 matches, scoring four goals last season as the club reached the National League playoff final, where they were eliminated by Southend in a penalty shootout. Cardwell played a role in the extra-time period of that decisive match as a substitute.
Since Robbie Savage’s appointment as Forest Green manager this summer, Cardwell has seen limited playing time, accumulating just 141 league minutes alongside appearances in the National League Cup. As a result, the loan move offers him an opportunity for more regular football.
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Cardwell is the second striker to depart Forest Green on loan this season, following academy graduate Jose Marquez’s loan to Dorking Wanderers. With the loan exits, the club’s frontline now relies on Temi Babalola, Christian Doidge, and Coventry City loanee Aidan Dausch, while Kairo Mitchell remains sidelined through injury.