Forest Fans United

Lore & Background

Forest is the only team in Europe to have won the European Cup or Champions League more often than the domestic championship (one). The club's most successful period came under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980. Forest also won the 1989 and 1990 League Cups under Clough. From 2019 to 2023, Nottingham Forest claimed to be the oldest remaining club in the English Football League, as Notts County had been relegated in 2019.

Reader's Guide

Nottingham Forest's main rivalry is with Derby County, with whom they contest the East Midlands derby. The Brian Clough Trophy has been awarded to the winner since 2007. The club's colours are Garibaldi Red, established at the founding meeting in 1865. Home matches are played at the City Ground.

Did You Know?

• The club donated a set of football kits to help Arsenal establish themselves in 1886.
• Forest's baseball club were British champions in 1899.
• The club's record appearance holder is Bobby McKinlay, who played in the 1959 FA Cup final winning team.

Founding and Early Identity

Established in 1865, Nottingham Forest traces its origins to a pivotal meeting at the Clinton Arms pub, where former shinty players agreed to transition to association football. This decision led to the selection of 'Garibaldi Red' as their official kit color, honoring Italian revolutionary leaders, and initially saw matches played at the historic Forest Racecourse. The club's early identity was deeply rooted in community support; they famously donated kits to help form Arsenal, Everton, and Brighton & Hove Albion, cementing a legacy of charitable assistance within English football. Although their initial application to join the Football League in 1888 was rejected, they successfully joined the Football Alliance in 1889, winning that competition in 1892 before finally entering the league structure. Their first official match against Notts County took place in March 1866, marking the beginning of a journey that would eventually see them recognized as one of the oldest remaining clubs in the English Football League.

The Clough and Taylor Era

The club's most celebrated period occurred under the legendary management duo of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor during the late 1970s and early 1980s. This era defined Nottingham Forest as a European giant, culminating in back-to-back European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980, a feat that remains unique to only six English clubs. Remarkably, Forest is the sole team in Europe to have won the European Cup or Champions League more times than they have secured the domestic league title. Their trophy cabinet from this golden age also includes one UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cups, and four League Cups. Even as Clough entered his final decade at the club, success continued with League Cup wins in 1989 and 1990. Despite reaching finals in the 1991 FA Cup and 1992 League Cup without victory, this managerial partnership established a standard of excellence that forever altered the club's trajectory on the international stage.

Competitive Fluctuations and Rivalries

Nottingham Forest has maintained a consistent presence in English football's top two tiers for nearly all seasons since joining the Football League, with only five exceptions. Their history is marked by dramatic swings between promotion and relegation; after falling from the Premier League in 1993, they returned immediately to finish third in 1995 before dropping down again in 1997 and 1999. It was not until winning the play-offs in 2022 that they secured a return to the top flight after a long absence. A significant part of their competitive identity revolves around the fierce East Midlands derby against Derby County, a rivalry formalized by the creation of the Brian Clough Trophy in 2007. This annual contest honors their most famous manager and underscores the intense local competition that defines much of the club's domestic narrative.

Historical Milestones and Honors

The club boasts a rich history of specific milestones, beginning with their first FA Cup semi-final victory in 1898 against Southampton, which paved the way for their first major trophy win. In the 1898 final at Crystal Palace, Arthur Capes scored twice to help secure a 3-1 victory over Derby County before a crowd of 62,000 fans. Early records also highlight individual achievements, such as William Henry Revis scoring the club's first league goal and winning a prize for kicking a ball over 161 feet in 1870. For decades, Forest held the distinction of being the oldest remaining club in the Football League, a claim validated by historians who clarified formation dates regarding rivals like Stoke City. These historical facts, ranging from multi-sport championships in baseball to their unique status as a European Cup winner with fewer league titles than continental honors, form the bedrock of their storied legacy.