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

I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
Cloughie1975 said:
I recall further trouble when Forest played Villa in a League Cup tie a couple weeks earlier-there was a
poisonous atmosphere around the City Ground at the time.
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There was no mention of trouble in the match report though there was this comment at the end -


A word of praise for the much-maligned Forest supporters at the Trent End. Although the club could do without their filthy language, it must be acknowledged how well these youngsters tried to lift their favourites during the second-half Their vocal efforts deserved a better ending.
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I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
Cloughie1975 said:
Yes,that’s right-although my records say 5,825 on 2nd May as Forest finished 15th in the 2nd Division.
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The figure I quoted was from an article under the nom de plume of Free Forester in the Football Post on May 7th so I guess he could have got it wrong.

Edit, But the Evening Post 3/5/1955 does have 5,675 in it's results section.
 
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C

Cloughie1975

John Robertson
I'm Red Till Dead said:
The figure I quoted was from an article under the nom de plume of Free Forester in the Football Post on May 7th so I guess he could have got it wrong.

Edit, But the Evening Post 3/5/1955 does have 5,675 in it's results section.
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I guess we’ll never really know!
The game was probably played on Monday,2 May 1955(presumably a rearranged game from a postponement as this was
the final league match of the season with nothing at stake)-I guess the Evening Post reported from the previous
day.
Both the Ken Smales and Phil Soar books say 2 May(not that it really matters!)
I know Ken Smales had access to official club records so I’m always inclined to think his version of events
are accurate(although I have noticed one or two errors).
 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
Cloughie1975 said:
I guess we’ll never really know!
The game was probably played on Monday,2 May 1955(presumably a rearranged game from a postponement as this was
the final league match of the season with nothing at stake)-I guess the Evening Post reported from the previous
day.
Both the Ken Smales and Phil Soar books say 2 May(not that it really matters!)
I know Ken Smales had access to official club records so I’m always inclined to think his version of events
are accurate(although I have noticed one or two errors).
Click to expand...

It was a rescceduling of a game due to have been played Saturday Feb 26th, 1955 which was cancelled due to snow and ice.

It was rearranged for May 2nd, but the report didn't apear till the following day in the NEP because of publishing times.

I've come a few things which Ken has got wrong, though usually in his team listings where he placed x's in the adjacent columns. Given what he had to work with in terms of teh technology at the time he did a brilliant job. I'm not sure what club records he would have had available as a lot was lost in the fire at the Leeds game I thought.
 
C

Cloughie1975

John Robertson
I'm Red Till Dead said:
It was a rescceduling of a game due to have been played Saturday Feb 26th, 1955 which was cancelled due to snow and ice.

It was rearranged for May 2nd, but the report didn't apear till the following day in the NEP because of publishing times.

I've come a few things which Ken has got wrong, though usually in his team listings where he placed x's in the adjacent columns. Given what he had to work with in terms of teh technology at the time he did a brilliant job. I'm not sure what club records he would have had available as a lot was lost in the fire at the Leeds game I thought.
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Ah yes,thanks-the fire in 1968 apparently destroyed all records prior to that.
Ken certainly did a sterling job on this-he states in the preface that crowd figures prior to 1968 were often
obtained from the Football League offices for attendance figures(although they rarely agreed with those quoted in
the newspapers!).
I think we can all agree that the West Ham game in 1955 was the lowest post-war crowd at the City Ground!
 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
Cloughie1975 said:
Ah yes,thanks-the fire in 1968 apparently destroyed all records prior to that.
Ken certainly did a sterling job on this-he states in the preface that crowd figures prior to 1968 were often
obtained from the Football League offices for attendance figures(although they rarely agreed with those quoted in
the newspapers!).
I think we can all agree that the West Ham game in 1955 was the lowest post-war crowd at the City Ground!
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If I had a time machine going back and moving the records before that day would be the first thing I did I think. Stopping the fire itself might cause too many ripples in time. :wink:

Re the attendance differences it still seems that way sometimes.

I think it's safe to say that's the case.
 
valspoodle

valspoodle

Steve Chettle
I'm Red Till Dead said:
When Forest played Cardiff at the City Ground on Wednesday September 19th, 1972, the crowd was a tiny 6414 which drew the following Comments from Chairman Jim Willmer.


(Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday, September 20, 1972)

Forest chairman answers critics

‘BE TOLERANT’ PLEA TO THE FANS

NOTTINGHAM FOREST chairman Jim Willmer today answered the 6,414 fans who turned last night’s match with Cardiff City into a widespread demonstration against manager Matt Gillies.

It’s really out of proportion with the situation. “They are being unfair to him at present,” said the Forest chief after seeing his manager subjected to an almost continuous verbal attack before, during and after the game

“The spectators are not being kind or tolerant and they have got to be at a time like this. We had a long run in Division I and I am sure they still have not got over us dropping down to Division II,” he added.

“I am sure this Is part of the answer and when things are not going right they have to find someone to blame and this is obviously the manager of the club.”

‘‘I suppose it is a natural reaction but the current position is disappointing to ourselves.”

“Both the committee and manager know that in some way we have got to strengthen the side and we are working on this. But it is pointless signing players unless they are the right ones,” he said.

“It’s a bad time for city football generally Notts having just missed out on promotion last season and ourselves being relegated.”

“The fans don’t seem to realise that the glory of Division I has gone for the present. We’re moving through a very difficult phase but the club is big enough to get over this patch”

Ruined

Last night’s match he said was ruined because a group of spectators adopted an anti-manager attitude instead of watching the match.

“This sort of thing affects the players and there were several times during last night’s game that the crowd’s reaction was upsetting them,” said Mr Willmer.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s City Ground clash with Aston Villa Mr Willmer commented: “I think if we start well you will probably see a different reaction entirely.

“We look to the verbal backing of the Trent End not the opposition and we certainly don’t take kindly to those who come and make a nuisance to the detriment of the honest to goodness fan,” he said.

And from the fans that cause a nuisance Mr Willmer turned to the absent supporters, “The fans were demanding the youngsters to be given a chance last season after the departure of Ian Moore.”

“They were given a chance but look what has happened those same fans have stayed away,” he said.

Jumping

But Mr Willmer accepted that last night’s City Ground “demo” was not only at the Trent End. Even season ticket holders were jumping to their feet and joining the chorus of “Gillies out Gillies out”

Even when Forest were leading 2-0 the chanting went on and police were brought from other parts of the ground to stand between the committee’s box - where Mr Gillies sat throughout the game - and the terracing.

A police spokesman commented today: “In view of the shouting that the crowd was directing at Mr Gillies, police were drafted to the front of the committee box as a precaution but there were no incidents.”


The following game at the City Ground on the 23rd was against Aston Villa which drew the biggest home league gate of the season of 18,082. The only bigger home gate of the season was the 3rd round FA cup Replay against West Brom which was abandoned after 81 minute with the score at 1-1.
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Who would have thought that within ten years we would have won, amongst other trophies, 2 European Cups?
 
alabamared

alabamared

Stuart Pearce
b2nbhbD.jpg
 
Strummer

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
alabamared said:
b2nbhbD.jpg
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I had one of those - the shirt, not the young lady - from Redmayne and Todd.

Granted I was only nine, so God knows I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do with the young lady at that age.

The shirt was absolutely lush, though.
 
alabamared

alabamared

Stuart Pearce
Strummer said:
I had one of those - the shirt, not the young lady - from Redmayne and Todd.

Granted I was only nine, so God knows I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do with the young lady at that age.

The shirt was absolutely lush, though.
Click to expand...

It's Larry Lloyd in a wig.
 
Strummer

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
Otis Redding

Otis Redding

Try A Little Tenderness
Redmayne & Todd, a truly legendary Nottingham shop where I acquired my first ever pair of proper football boots, circa 1957.
 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
C

Cloughie1975

John Robertson
I'm Red Till Dead said:
In the post on the day of the second leg of the infamous UEFA cup semi against Anderlect, Cloughie expressed concerns about the referee!

View attachment 13934
Click to expand...
Yes-I went to the game in Brussels and Cloughie was spot on-Anderlecht were an extremely skilful side
with good players.
However(as well documented),the penalty and disallowed goal decisions highlighted the dubious refereeing
which was later exposed.
That game still hits a raw nerve with me-I don’t mind losing but hate being cheated.
 
I'm Red Till Dead

I'm Red Till Dead

Stuart Pearce
Cloughie1975 said:
Yes-I went to the game in Brussels and Cloughie was spot on-Anderlecht were an extremely skilful side
with good players.
However(as well documented),the penalty and disallowed goal decisions highlighted the dubious refereeing
which was later exposed.
That game still hits a raw nerve with me-I don’t mind losing but hate being cheated.
Click to expand...
I mind losing a little, but hate cheats.

I typed up the report for the scrapbook yesterday and the Post was perplexed by those decisions. They posted these three pictures.
Foul-1.jpg
Foul-2.jpg
Foul-3.jpg
 
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