Nottingham Forest FC were formed in 1865 by a team of shinty players in response to neighbours Notts County's formation. They called themselves Forest because they played on the Forest Recreation Ground which is the venue of the annual Goose Fair.
The club reached the FA Cup semi finals of 1879, 1880 and 1885. In 1889 they moved across the city and the Trent to West Bridgford where they set up home at the City Ground. Forest gained entry into the Football Alliance and in 1890 they became the first ever club to use goal nets before joining the Football League in 1892 after winning the Alliance title.
Four years later Forest donated a set of shirts to Arsenal, which began their tradition of playing in red shirts. In 1898 the club lifted the FA Cup after defeating local rivals Derby County 3-1 in the Crystal Palace encounter. After spending much of their time in Division Two, Forest found themselves relegated to the third tier in 1949.
They were promoted as champions two seasons later and then reached Division One in 1957. Two years later they lifted their second FA Cup in a dramatic final. Forest beat Luton Town 2-1 after playing with ten men for much of the game after Roy Dwight, the uncle of Elton John was stretchered off with a broken leg in the days before substitutes were permitted.
Forest took over as the city's biggest club and reached an FA Cup semi final and finished runners up in Division One in 1967 with Ian Storey-Moore starring. However, the success didn't continue and they were relegated in 1972.
January 6th 1975 turned out to be a pivotal day in the history of the club as Brian Clough was appointed as manager, with Peter Taylor as his assistant. Clough nurtured talent already at the club such as John Robertson and Martin O'Neill and brought through youngsters like Tony Woodcock and Viv Anderson.
He added experienced players from his former clubs in the shape of John O'Hare, Archie Gemmell and John McGovern as well as signing men who were considered past their best like Larry Lloyd and Kenny Burns. he side won promotion back to the top flight in 1977.
Clough added goalkeeper Peter Shilton to the team as they took the First Division by storm. Forest were crowned League champions at their first attempt as well as defeating Liverpool to lift the League Cup after a replay.
The following season they incredibly went all the way to win the European Cup with the first ever million pound signing Trevor Francis scoring the only goal against Malmo FF in Munich. Forest also retained the League Cup following a 3-2 win against Southampton.
In 1980 Forest lifted the European Cup for the second time, after defeating Kevin Keegan's Hamburger SV in the Bernabeau showdown thanks to a John Robertson goal and a fine performance from Shilton between the sticks.
For classic Forest action in true 70's conditions at the City Ground before redevelopment, click on the three links below to watch the European Cup Semi Final against FC Koln in 1979. The forth clip is of the return leg. Enjoy:
Clough had a period where serious money was spent on some average players, but all the time he gave youngsters their chance. Taylor departed after yet another fall out, which was sadly never resolved before his death.
In 1984 Forest controversially lost to Anderlecht in the semi finals of the UEFA Cup after having a goal disallowed. It was later found that the referee had been bribed by the Belgian club.
In 1989 Forest lifted the League Cup for the third time after defeating Luton Town. They also lost out to Liverpool in an emotional FA Cup semi final after the first game had been abandoned after the loss of ninety five fans at the Hillsborough disaster.
They went on to retain the League Cup with a win against Oldham Athletic as Garry Parker helped pull the strings in midfield, Stuart Pearce and Des Walker controlling the defence and Nigel Clough banging in the goals. In 1991 Forest went down in extra time to Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup Final.
In 1984 Forest controversially lost to Anderlecht in the semi finals of the UEFA Cup after having a goal disallowed. It was later found that the referee had been bribed by the Belgian club.
In 1989 Forest lifted the League Cup for the third time after defeating Luton Town. They also lost out to Liverpool in an emotional FA Cup semi final after the first game had been abandoned after the loss of ninety five fans at the Hillsborough disaster.
They went on to retain the League Cup with a win against Oldham Athletic as Garry Parker helped pull the strings in midfield, Stuart Pearce and Des Walker controlling the defence and Nigel Clough banging in the goals. In 1991 Forest went down in extra time to Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup Final.
Gradually the team broke up and despite the introduction of Roy Keane, the side struggled. In May 1993 in Clough's last season at the helm the team were relegated.
Former player Frank Clark took over and although it was never going to be easy to follow in the great man's footsteps, Clark did a fine job for three years with Pearce, Stan Collymore and Brian Roy showing the way after they qualified for Europe the season after their return to the Premier League.
Sadly players were sold to help with the struggling finances and lark was replaced by Dave Bassett. His two year spell ended as his time was not being helped by the moody Pierre Van Hooijdonk. Ron Atkinson came in to try and save the season, but Forest were relegated once more.
David Platt was appointed as Player Manager, but his spell was very disappointing as big money signings funded by new owner Nigel Doughty failed to perform. He was replaced after two years by Paul Hart who brought talented youngsters such as Michael Dawson through.
His reign lasted three years and then after brief spells in charge from Joe Kinnear, Gary Megson (who took the team down to the third tier) and Frank Barlow, Colin Calderwood was appointed in May 2006.
Colin Calderwood got The Reds back up after two seasons before he also fell victim to poor results back in The Championship. Billy Davies came in and improved the side. Forest lost out in the play offs at the end of the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons and as a consequence, Davies was relieved of his duties as he cited a lack in investment in the team was to blame.
He was replaced by former England boss, Steve McClaren. McClaren's reign was not a happy one and he was soon replaced by Steve Cotterill with assistance from Sean O'Driscoll. They managed to help Forest survive a tense relegation battle. It had been a difficult season for the club as owner Doughty died suddenly in February 2012 after ploughing in an estimated one hundred million pounds into the club during his tenure.
The Al-Hasawi family, from Kuwait, purchased the club and became the new owners of Nottingham Forest in July of 2012. Their first action was to sack Cotterill and bring back O'Driscoll as team manager from the same role that he just taken up at Crawley Town.
However O'Driscoll's spell was not deemed a success and he was sacked on Boxing Day 2012 despite just seeing his side beat Leeds United 4-2. His replacement Alex McLeish proved a disaster as backroom staff were dismissed before the Scotsman leaving after just forty days at the helm.
Billy Davies was re-appointed but only lasted thirteen months. Gary Brazil looked after the team until the end of the 2013-14 season before fans favourite Stuart Pearce took over in the summer.
Pearce couldn't get his side to perform consistently despite a decent start. It was with sadness all around that the club legend was replaced by another former player Dougie Freeman in February 2015.
Nottingham Forest will play in the Football League Championship in season 2015-16.
My visits
Nottingham Forest 0 Crystal Palace 1 (Saturday 2nd February 1991) Division One
I was recovering from a leg operation when I got my first opportunity to visit the City Ground. I was friendly with the employees of a sports photography company in Scarborough and one of their top snappers, Rich Sellers was travelling alone to the game against Crystal Palace. I took up the offer of a free lift on the proviso we'd be beating the traffic at the end of the game so I'd have to leave five minutes early.
The clubs had been engaged in an FA Cup tussle that Forest won after three games a week earlier so their was a fair bit of rivalry built up between the sides. Palace had a decent sized away following and they were rewarded with a 1-0 win. I was in the Trent End which was a basic covered terrace. To my right was the Main Stand which was all seated although it once had a terraced paddock at the front. To my left was the large cantilevered two tiered Executive Stand while the far Colwick End was a large open terrace which sloped away to the Main Stand side.
Nottingham Forest 2 Aston Villa 2 (Saturday 23rd February 1991) Division One
Just a few weeks later I had travelled on a Friday evening to watch Scarborough play away at Torquay United, only for the game to be postponed because of a waterlogged pitch after we had booked into our hotel! Our car load wanted to see a game so a vote was taken. 
The lads (Johnno, Laingy, Andy T and Terry F'wit) wanted to go to Forest against Aston Villa. So I once again took my position in the Trent End. The game ended 2-2 and we went on to have a good night out in Nottingham and then Shepshed to round off a heavy weekend.
Thursday June 5th 2008
I was to meet Crusher, Karl and Phil for the opening days play in the Third Test between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge. I arrived earlier than my mates so after a quick look inside Meadow lane I proceeded to the City Ground.
I saw an open gate in the corner between the Trent End and Main Stands. I saw a club worker and they told me I was fine to have a look inside as long as I didn't step over the pitch perimeter fence. I was left to have a wander at my own free will.
By now the old Trent End had been replaced by a big seated Trent End Stand. The Executive Stand was now called The Brian Clough Stand in honour of their former genius manager who sadly passed away in 2004. The Colwick End terrace had been replaced by a two tiered Bridgford Stand.I saw an open gate in the corner between the Trent End and Main Stands. I saw a club worker and they told me I was fine to have a look inside as long as I didn't step over the pitch perimeter fence. I was left to have a wander at my own free will.
The City Ground is an impressive venue. There were plans unveiled in 2007 for a new stadium south of the city near Clifton to hold 50,000 fans and to be served by the Nottingham Express Transit tram service. The question is, is it really needed?
0 Comments