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Are you a Forest Fan?
2022/23 Finish - 16th Place
Medium sized club in the midlands who have won cups and been generally good and very consistent having spent 57 seasons in the top league, 58 in level 2 and only 5 in level 3. However, it was a long dry spell for The Reds prior to last season having been out of the PL since 1999. Ownership went all in in the offseason after their promotion and signed an English record 21 players to their first team squad. The directive was set, stay up or bust, which put a lot of pressure on manager Steve Cooper. On several occasions the thought was Cooper would be out. Ownership stuck with him, and they avoided relegation by earning 11 points in their final six matches.
Forest continues to spend and has upped their expectation to finish well ahead of what the bettors think, 16th. A slow start could be the end for Cooper. Will a year of integrating what was basically a new squad last year pay dividends this year after a full offseason and some quality additions?
The Club
Located in West Bridgeford suburb of Nottingham (East Midlands)
City Ground, 30,000 capacity
Rough estimates
$100M Annual Revenue
$70M Player Payroll
History on the Pitch
1 Title in1978
2 FA Cups
2 Europe Cups
Ownership
Evangelos Marinakis earned a his $3B+ in Shipping and is the Founder of Capital Maritime & Trading, Greece. Also owns Greek club Olympiacos.
In 2018, Marinakis was charged with drug trafficking as one of his ships was found with over 2 tons of heroin worth $70M. NFFC Chairman, Nicholas Randall wrote an open letter to supporters reaffirming his support of Marinakis. In 2021 it was determined there was no evidence implicating Marinakis.
Sponsorship
Biggest Rival - Millwall
Notts County & Forest stadiums are the two closest clubs in all of England, 300 yards. While they are a rival, Forest has been at least 1 league ahead of Notts since 1995.
The East Midlands Derby is contested between Derby County & Forest. In 109 matches Forest has 43W 37L 29D.
Leicester City & Sheffield United are also rivals given their location in the East Midlands. SU take’s LC’s spot this year in the PL.
The Culture
Sleeping giants? Forest has won titles (but not since the 1970s), have a big fanbase, and great tradition. It's just been out of the spotlight stuck in The Championship. Much of the personality of the club is tied to Brian Clough, “the spiky, provocative and great self-aggrandizer” whose personality put a mark on English Football. Clough brought a brash style for close to 20 years, with success. Forest fans definitely have a “preferred-style” of play - to play beautiful soccer - described by Clough as “aiming for utopia”. Current manager Steve Cooper’s team plays this way, out of the back with precision passing and quick build ups.
The fans have been unwavering and hope this second season back in the PL is not a launching pad. This slogan on a 40-yard banner hung by supporters on the first level grandstand sums up a Forest fan - “Nottingham Forest. No matter what. We’ll be behind you. And will never stop.”
Garibaldi Red
At the founding of the club in 1865, the decision was made to honor Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian general who led the Red Coats Freedom Fighters in battle and was populate in England at the time. Forest was the first club to officially wear red.
Arsenal’s red kits are a result of Forest who donated red kits to them at the founding of their club.
Supporters You May Recognize
Lee Westwood
Joe Dempsie
Many UK celebrities
Song
Made famous by Paul McCartney and Wings, the song was released in 1977 and adopted by Forest fans in 1978 when they won the top league title.
“City Ground, Oh mist rolling in from the Trent, My desire is always to be here, Oh City Ground.
Far have I travelled and much have I seen Goodison, Anfield are places I've been. Maine Road, Old Trafford still echo to the sound, Of the boys in the red from the City Ground.”
Game Day Pub Guide
Fan Sites
Official Twitter
@NFFC
High Follows on Twitter
@NFFC_Live (21k)
@NFFCNA (3k)
@Forest_Review (22k)
@Official_NFSC (6k)
@ForestWatch_ (9k)
The Team
The Gaffer
Steve Cooper (Wales), 43yo
In September 2021 Forest was in The Championship and in last place, hired Cooper who changed their style of play, and led them to Promotion to the PL. Then, kept them up in 2023.
ODDS
To Win League +100,000
To Be Relegated +275
To Finish Top 4 +10,000
To Finish Top 10 +800
Roster Notes
Full Roster click link
Projected to finish 16th
Americans: Ethan Horvath, GK, played with Luton Town on loan last year.
Joe Worrall, England, 26, Captain.
Forest is spending this year ($50M) after signing 21 players last year which was a record for the top league.
