Nottingham Forest FC

Nottingham Forest 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Football League, Division One

Nottingham is a city in the East Midlands of England. It is known for its links to the legend of Robin Hood and for its lace-making, bicycle and tobacco industries. It was granted its city charter in 1897 as part of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. In Anglo-Saxon times the area was part of the Kingdom of Mercia, and was known in the Brythonic language as Tigguo Cobauc, meaning Place of Caves. When it fell under the rule of a Saxon chieftain named Snot it became known as "Snotingaham"; the homestead of Snot's people. Nottingham Castle was constructed in the 11th century on a sandstone outcrop by the River Leen. The Anglo-Saxon settlement developed into the English Borough of Nottingham and housed a Town Hall and Law Courts. A settlement also developed around the castle on the hill opposite and was the French borough supporting the Normans in the castle. Eventually, the space between was built on as the town grew and the Old Market Square became the focus of Nottingham several centuries later. On the return of Richard the Lion Heart from the Crusades, the castle stood out in Prince John's favour. It was besieged by Richard and, after a sharp conflict, was captured. During the Industrial Revolution, much of Nottingham's prosperity was founded on the textile industry; in particular, the city became an internationally important centre of lace manufacture. In 1831 citizens rioted in protest against the Duke of Newcastle's opposition to the Reform Act 1832, setting fire to his residence, Nottingham Castle. In common with the UK textile industry, Nottingham's textile sector fell into decline in the decades following World War II. Little textile manufacture now takes place in Nottingham. However, many of the former industrial buildings in the Lace Market district have been restored and put to new uses.

Nottingham Forest FC was founded in 1865 by a group of Bandy and Shinty players, as Nottingham Forest Football and Bandy Club shortly after their neighbours Notts County, thought to be the world's oldest surviving professional association football club, in 1862. They joined the Football Alliance in 1889 and won the competition in 1892. They then entered to The Football League. In 1890, Forest moved to the Town Ground, playing in the first ever match to use goal nets. Since 1898 the club has played home matches at the City Ground. Forest claimed their first major honour when they won the 1898 FA Cup, beating Derby County 3–1 at Crystal Palace. The club spent most of the first half of the twentieth century in the Second Division. In 1949, they were relegated to the Third Division but were promoted two years later as champions. Forest regained First Division status in 1957 and won the FA Cup for a second time in 1959, defeating Luton Town at Wembley. After being runners-up in the League and Cup semi-finalists in 1967, Forest were relegated from the First Division in 1972. Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor took the helm in 1975 and their first game in charge was the third round FA Cup replay against Tottenham Hotspur resulting in a 1–0 victory thanks to a goal by Scottish centre-forward Neil Martin. Nottingham Forest won promotion to the top division at the end of the 1976–77 season after finishing third in the Second Division.

This Pieman travelled to the City ground for this opening match of the season, looking forward to seeing newly promoted Tottenham Hotspur play Forest, the current league champions. I travelled by charter train and on arrival at the ground was informed that the away supporters area was full. The reason for the increased interest in this match was that Argentinians Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Villa were making their competitive debuts for Spurs. I watched the match from the open end terrace with fans of both clubs. Villa scored the leveller for Spurs in a 1-1 draw.

Attendance: 41.223
Programme: 20p

Subsequent visits to the City Ground

• 11 March 1980 - Nottingham Forest 4 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - League Division One - Attendance: 25633
• 15 November 1980 - Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3 - League Division One - Attendance: 25400
• 12 May 1982 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - League Division One - Attendance: 15273
• 09 April 1983 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - League Division One - Attendance: 18265
• 04 February 1984 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - League Division One - Attendance: 21482
• 10 November 1984 - Nottingham Forest 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - League Division One - Attendance: 21306
• 14 September 1985 - Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - League Division One - Attendance: 17554
• 02 May 1987 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - League Division One - Attendance: 19837
• 24 October 1987 - Nottingham Forest 3 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - League Division One - Attendance: 23543
• 22 March 1989 - Nottingham Forest 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - League Division One - Attendance: 23098
• 17 January 1990 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - League Cup, 5th Round - Attendance: 30044
• 07 April 1990 - Nottingham Forest 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 - League Division One - Attendance: 21669
• 27 October 1990 - Nottingham Forest 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - League Division One - Attendance: 27347
• 28 August 1991 - Nottingham Forest 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 - League Division One - Attendance: 24018
• 09 February 1992 - Nottingham Forest 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - League Cup, Semi-Final 1st Leg - Attendance: 21402
• 02 December 1992 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - League Cup, 4th Round - Attendance: 22812
• 12 April 1993 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Premier League - Attendance: 25682
• 04 March 1995 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - Premier League - Attendance: 28711
• 19 February 1996 - Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - FA Cup, 5th Round (abandoned) - Attendance: 17009
• 28 February 1996 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - FA Cup, 5th Round - Attendance: 18600
• 06 April 1996 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Premier League - Attendance: 27053
• 19 January 1997 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Premier League - Attendance: 27303
• 17 April 1999 - Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Premier League - Attendance: 25181
• 31 July 2004 - Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - Friendly - Attendance: 18845
• 02 March 2005 - Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3 - FA Cup, 5th Round Replay - Attendance: 28062
• 08 August 2017 - Nottingham Forest 2 Shrewsbury Town 1 - League Cup, 1st Round - Attendance: 7546
• 28 August 2022 - Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - Premier League - Attendance: 29296
• 09 November 2022 - Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - League Cup, 3rd Round - Attendance: 28354

Total - 29