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Forest Early History - sponsored by I‘m Red Till Dead

Rockabilly

Rockabilly

GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Kjetil Osvold's Cat

Kjetil Osvold's Cat

Kingsley Black
198283match.JPG

198687match.JPG

199091matchforest.png

Most of the credit should indeed go to Nicola (she put all my info in a table, made it easy to follow etc and decided which thread it would be best suited on), but here are a few Forest related pages from Match magazine too then (I think they're worth breaking my hiatus from the forum for temporarily). These show that with Match's own ratings Anderson was the top rated right back in 82/83 (and Birtles among the top strikers), and Pearce the top rated left back in 90/91 (well this page doesn't show that but he was), and that Webb was their overall top rated player in 86/87 (so those are all upgrades on how The People had it in those seasons - Pearce with a slight upgrade in average rating anyway as I think he was the top rated left back in the league with The People's ratings too actually - the 90/91 page is worth posting as it has the full Forest squad on anyway I think and those stats at the side, with all those goal attempts and the cleanest disciplinary record in the league too).
 
Kjetil Osvold's Cat

Kjetil Osvold's Cat

Kingsley Black
Since I had been including future/ex Forest players in the info I passed on from The People (I'm not really sure Kevin Ratcliffe counts though in hindsight since I don't think he ever played a game for Forest did he?), it's worth pointing out Martin O'Neill having a Player of the Month award from Match on that 82/83 page (for December) too, and (I add 50 minutes later) Colin Walsh's name appears as top rated Charlton player of 1986/87 as well on the Match page.

The final thing I can add is the info on who were The People's 1st Division/Premier League players of the season (plus 2nd tier player of the season when Forest were in that league in 76/77 - the 93/94 ratings were only for mid-season so that's still unknown for that season but I'd have thought more Forest players could possibly have joined those with the leading ratings anyway given the 2nd half of the season went better than the 1st generally speaking!):
1976/77 (1st Division) - Gordon McQueen (Leeds), 1976/77 (2nd Division) - Ray Wilkins (Chelsea)
1977/78 - Trevor Brooking (West Ham)
1978/79 - Tony Currie (Leeds)
1979/80 - Ossie Ardiles (Tottenham)
1980/81 - Frans Thijssen (Ipswich)
1981/82 - unconfirmed (leaders were Alan Brazil of Ipswich, Kevin Keegan of Southampton, Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles of Tottenham, and then Trevor Francis with those two games for Forest and many more for Man City, with 9 games left to play)
1982/83 - Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
1983/84 - Ray Wilkins (Man United)
1984/85 - Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
1985/86 - Terry Butcher (Ipswich)
1986/87 - Trevor Steven (Everton)
1987/88 - John Barnes (Liverpool)
1988/89 - Steve Nicol (Liverpool)
1989/90 - Peter Shilton (Derby)
1990/91 - Gordon Strachan (Leeds)
1991/92 - David Batty (Leeds)
1992/93 - Paul Ince (Man United)
The leader in 1993/94 at the end of December was Chris Waddle (Sheffield Wednesday) in the Premier League, while it was Chris Armstrong (Crystal Palace) in the 1st Division. Waddle's average rating at that point was higher than anyone's end of season rating listed above though at 7.90 (the highest end of season ones above in the 1st Division are Currie (78/79) at 7.79 (Dalglish had 7.59 that season too) and Wilkins (83/84) at 7.55).
 
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alabamared

alabamared

Stuart Pearce
8Xr07It.jpg


The crowd that night was 49946, can you imagine the noise with that many in the WFCG?

Also check out the name of the Ref!
 
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Senior Flange Technician

Senior Flange Technician

Andy!
Came across this the other day. Not sure if it's been posted already? Or the article relating to it?

On one particularly memorable day in 1898, the victorious Nottingham Forest team paid an early visit to the Royal Oak after winning the FA Cup against Derby County at Crystal Palace. Children for miles around had been invited for free lemonade to celebrate the win and the players had joined them for a drink after a training session in the fields below Beeston Station4 - and had even brought along the Cup. As it was being packed away, the Club Secretary - Henry Hallam - turned to Lily Elliott, then only 15, who was helping behind the bar, and offered her one of the red ribbons from the Cup, with the words, "Keep this - it might be something to remember in your old age." And 60 years later she did when she recalled the incident - and proundly confirmed that she still had the ribbon - for a feature in the Nottingham newspapers when Forest had once again reached the final in 1959 - against Luton who they beat 2-1.


 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
Senior Flange Technician said:
Came across this the other day. Not sure if it's been posted already? Or the article relating to it?

On one particularly memorable day in 1898, the victorious Nottingham Forest team paid an early visit to the Royal Oak after winning the FA Cup against Derby County at Crystal Palace. Children for miles around had been invited for free lemonade to celebrate the win and the players had joined them for a drink after a training session in the fields below Beeston Station4 - and had even brought along the Cup. As it was being packed away, the Club Secretary - Henry Hallam - turned to Lily Elliott, then only 15, who was helping behind the bar, and offered her one of the red ribbons from the Cup, with the words, "Keep this - it might be something to remember in your old age." And 60 years later she did when she recalled the incident - and proundly confirmed that she still had the ribbon - for a feature in the Nottingham newspapers when Forest had once again reached the final in 1959 - against Luton who they beat 2-1.


Click to expand...
No it hasn't been posted before SFT. I think I did post a report on the team taking the cup along to a pub. I wonder if it was the same one? I will check.
 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
valspoodle said:
I'll bet there were no correct answers. I wonder why?
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I don't understand why not. I gave everyone about 5 hours and there wasn't even one guess. 😆

I thought it would be a useful piece of information for someone to file away in case it comes up in a future quiz. From a quiz in 1985 I still remember Horse Under Water was written by Len Deighton and William S. Burrows wrote A Naked Lunch.
 
Steve B

Steve B

Jack Armstrong
Here’s one for you
Which ex Forest player was also a famous music hall drag act?
Clue - not David Pleat.
 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
I know that a lot of the early amateur Forest players loved a song and a bit of am-dram, but I think you might be talking a little bit later later than that. I'd love it to be one of the harder players in our history like Knocker West, Psycho or Kenny Burns though.

Is it actually someone with the same name as a Forest player? If so there are at least two Forest players that share a name with British Prime Ministers.
 
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T

Timothy Pope

I know that Nuno that I know that Nuno that I know
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
Steve B said:
I was waiting for some guesses but if that’s the best you can do here’s the answer.

Russell Wallett (aka the Lady in Black)
http://www.beeston-notts.co.uk/families/wallett/3356.shtml
Click to expand...

I did not know that.

I see that he performed at a Forest smoking concert (not necessarily dressed though) and played juist the once for the club against Cambridge, a 2-0 defeat.

His father was a professor of Eloqution after a carear in the circus .
 
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Steve B

Steve B

Jack Armstrong
I'm Red Till Dead said:
I did not know that.

I see that he performed at a Forest smoking concert (not necessarily dressed though) and played juist the once for the club against Cambridge, a 2-0 defeat.

His father was a professor of Eloqution after a carear in the circus .
Click to expand...
Bet his initiation song surprised a few committee members
 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
Steve B said:
Bet his initiation song surprised a few committee members
Click to expand...

I don't think he could have got in a dress the night of the smoking concert. That game against Cambridge was his last. He was forced to retire with a leg injury and never played football again apparently.
 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
In recognition of the 125th anniversary of the first game played at the 'new' City Ground, here is an article from the following monday with some details of the ground -

A New Era Begins.

(Nottingham Journal, Monday, September 05, 1898)

THE MATCH AT THE NEW CITY GROUND

With a pretty vista of wooded hills, grey old church tower, and a red mill, the picture from the magnificent new stand of the Forest Football Club is as charming as that presented to spectators on any ground in England. The glowing sun on Saturday poured its warm rays on a spectacle such as can be found only where the devotees of our manly sports, and the enthralling pastime of football in particular, are congregated in their tens of thousands. The smooth, well-rolled green sward on which the well trained athletes on Saturday contested in muscular but friendly rivalry had an environment so animated that the man must have been phlegmatic indeed, and of a singular temperament, had he not been somewhat stirred by the panorama of life and movement spread before him. Eager faces bright with the pleasure derived from their first introduction of the season, to the delights of their favourite sport, consecrated and glamoured by its medieval origin, old and yet fresh. Youth and age, sturdy young men and staid authoritative professional men and merchants, pretty girls in lightest of summer raiment (for the afternoon was warmer even than the typical September day) – all were bright and smiling. The scene presented by the great members’ stand was one to remember, for never in the history of the game in Nottingham has there been a gathering so charming in colour or variety, or one so numerous and representative.

Well packed too, were the stands on the river side and along the east wing of the ground, where there is standing and seating accommodation for 13,000 spectators. But so ample is the space at the disposal of the public that quite as many more people as were present could have found ample and comfortable accommodation and a good view of the game. How the old colours made the blood tingle in the veins as the crimson-shirted Foresters came leaping over the barrier, greeted by a thunderous shout of welcome and a fire of hand-clapping like the discharge of musketry. The familiar figures looked pictures of robust health – just a little on the heavy side one thought in two or three cases; but men used to the care of athletes know that something has to be left on which to work. Man cannot commence on a seven months’ campaign in greyhound condition.

Quickly after the “reds” came the Rovers, looking neat and cool in their familiar blue and white shirts, and their welcome was of the heartiest. Soon Mr. Scragg had the men “on the mark,” and with the old, familiar rumble of sound the ball was started on its career in the first League encounter in Nottingham of the 1898-9 season.

Note: Sadly, Blackburn won the game by a goal to nil.
 
Quntib Hollox

Quntib Hollox

Jack Armstrong
I'm Red Till Dead said:
In recognition of the 125th anniversary of the first game played at the 'new' City Ground, here is an article from the following monday with some details of the ground -

A New Era Begins.

(Nottingham Journal, Monday, September 05, 1898)

THE MATCH AT THE NEW CITY GROUND

With a pretty vista of wooded hills, grey old church tower, and a red mill, the picture from the magnificent new stand of the Forest Football Club is as charming as that presented to spectators on any ground in England. The glowing sun on Saturday poured its warm rays on a spectacle such as can be found only where the devotees of our manly sports, and the enthralling pastime of football in particular, are congregated in their tens of thousands. The smooth, well-rolled green sward on which the well trained athletes on Saturday contested in muscular but friendly rivalry had an environment so animated that the man must have been phlegmatic indeed, and of a singular temperament, had he not been somewhat stirred by the panorama of life and movement spread before him. Eager faces bright with the pleasure derived from their first introduction of the season, to the delights of their favourite sport, consecrated and glamoured by its medieval origin, old and yet fresh. Youth and age, sturdy young men and staid authoritative professional men and merchants, pretty girls in lightest of summer raiment (for the afternoon was warmer even than the typical September day) – all were bright and smiling. The scene presented by the great members’ stand was one to remember, for never in the history of the game in Nottingham has there been a gathering so charming in colour or variety, or one so numerous and representative.

Well packed too, were the stands on the river side and along the east wing of the ground, where there is standing and seating accommodation for 13,000 spectators. But so ample is the space at the disposal of the public that quite as many more people as were present could have found ample and comfortable accommodation and a good view of the game. How the old colours made the blood tingle in the veins as the crimson-shirted Foresters came leaping over the barrier, greeted by a thunderous shout of welcome and a fire of hand-clapping like the discharge of musketry. The familiar figures looked pictures of robust health – just a little on the heavy side one thought in two or three cases; but men used to the care of athletes know that something has to be left on which to work. Man cannot commence on a seven months’ campaign in greyhound condition.

Quickly after the “reds” came the Rovers, looking neat and cool in their familiar blue and white shirts, and their welcome was of the heartiest. Soon Mr. Scragg had the men “on the mark,” and with the old, familiar rumble of sound the ball was started on its career in the first League encounter in Nottingham of the 1898-9 season.

Note: Sadly, Blackburn won the game by a goal to nil.
Click to expand...
I’m all for bringing back the “Come on you crimson shirted foresters “ chant 😂😂
 
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