Dear Dad ...

[marky]

Most of my family are Derby fans and my sister is a Sheffield United fan so it would have been difficult for me to support Forest. When I started watching football in 1992 (that's because of my age, not the other reason people usually give about that year) both Nottingham clubs were in the top division. Obviously I was aware they were the bigger club with higher attendances but it didn't matter so much then. The last 30 years have been shameful for Notts apart from the odd exception.

[countygump]

Note to self,

Similar sentiments except that I had nobody take me to Meadow Lane, it was entirely my decision to become a Notts fan in 1970. I became interested in football, and a combination of teeenage rebellion and love for the underdog made me choose Notts over Forest. Even when they were winning European cups I never regretted it for a second. I've had some great years and some awful years but I wouldn't change a thing.

It was my brother who first took me to ML. But I'm absolutely sure I would have found my own way there if he hadn't. As with you, always the underdog for me and wanting to do things a little differently, rather than just following the crowd. I suspect that's why a lot of us chose Notts. I wouldn't change a thing either and have no regrets whatsoever. Though I must admit that in the gloom of the 'Trust years", I came very close to calling it a day.

[Bohinen]

My Dad took me to Notts and my Mum to Forest, not that they were splitting up or anything, just he had vowed never to enter the City Ground, and he never did. I actively supported the away teams at Forest, they almost made me physically sick with that vile shade of red, the crowing, and that awful Robin Hood riding through the glen song. Then one of their chavs nicked my Notts hat at a County Cup final and that sealed my hatred for them.

I still have that feeling when I see Jermaine Jenas, he's the personification of all that is wrong with Forest.

[Mark_Ross]

Well, what can you do? {shrugs} It's a life sentence!

This football club causes me endless pain - but the rare, occasional success seems to justify the strange love.

[Lullapie]

One side of my family are Notts and the other Forest. I was a Forest fan from about 1975 to 1980. I watched some incredible football under a brilliant manager. Then Forest started to sell many of their players who I considered 'heroes'.

I didn't watch much football for a bit until a friend of my step-dad came into the Thurland Arms one Saturday, at about 1.45pm and said he and a mate could only have one drink as they were heading off to Sheffield to watch County play. My step-dad, said 'here - take him with you'.

It was something to do as a 15 year old I had nothing 'planned' that afternoon . Notts were riding high in Division 2, but had stumbled a bit for a few games, if I remember correctly.

We left Nottingham at about 2.15 and got to Hillsborough about 10 minutes before kick off - I remember tanking up the M1 in a Daimler Sovereign. We sat in their main stand with about 50 other Notts fans - the rest were stood up way to our left. Probably less away fans than Notts take now.

I didn't know that the two people I went up with, had 'investments' in Notts.

It was 1-1 then Notts scored in the last minute to win 2-1.

I always had the opinion that Notts was supported by old people and were very unglamourous, but I was hooked.

As I said before, I like to see Forest do well - but of course, Notts doing well is more important.

[SinceSept1959]

My dad took me to watch 🌳 v Brum in 1958 and my Grandad took me to ML in 1959 v Crewe.
My dad and I used to go to both on alternative Saturdays until I started playing regular Youth League Football in 1964.
I've always felt more at home at Notts and often used to go to watch Notts Reserves in The Football Combination if dad was at work and there was no YL game.

Pleased to say that my young grandson only went to watch the trees once with a friend but is a now totally black and white in outlook.

[Old_pie]

It is interesting to read the different sentiments on here, some depending on the era that they first went to Notts. My Dad returned from WWII and soon after the Tommy Lawton era began with record crowds and scoring even though we were 3rd Division South. As I recall Notts were perceived as being the bigger side, or at least potentially so. The 49/50 season when we ran away with the title to get promotion saw us get the double over our little neighbours and with our home attendance of 46,000 beating their crowd of 37.903 a couple of months earlier. Optimism of getting into the top tier faded after a few seasons of mediocre performance and the great man leaving but I guess this was the time that as my Dad started to settle with a family and finding a job that he started going to the Lane when he could afford it. We were still above the Reds in 54/55 and again getting the double over them. Shortly afterwards they went into the top tier and shortly after that we went down and then down again to the newly formed 4th division, the basement. Immediate promotion and in the eyes of many at the time the past few years were just a blip. Despite the FA Cup win over the river I don't think we were seen as little brother. With Hateley, Roby, Astle & co we were on the up and I was on the bandwagon. It didn't happen, down we went again after failing to reach the second tier then the financial issues started. Ex-Red players took on the role of managing and saving the club, Burkitt and Billy Gray, and I think this was the time we were seen as little brother being saved by the Reds.

To be back there and struggling again to get out after falling even lower is pretty hard to take. I vividly remember the optimism my Dad and I had in August 1964 when we went to Brentford for the opening game of the season and looking forward to our new star signing, Vic Povey from Wolves, only to see us suffer a 4-1 defeat and relegation. Years of poo again until Sirrel came and got a grip. Some of you have only known those good years and not the heartaches that went on before.

I'll be honest; after dropping out of the top tier in Pavis's era and watching it all happen again I've lost a lot of enthusiasm and commitment. I don't get to many games now and those I've been to (play-offs excepted) have not seen a win at home.

Well done to all of you who have retained your commitment and I hope your patience, and that of our current owners, stands the test of time.

[CamPie]

My life sentence really started early seventies but I was probably already hooked late sixties when I was about 8. There?s no family affiliation, my Dad was from Wakefield and Rugby League was his sport and a Trinity fan. A family friend up the road in Burton Joyce used to go to Meadow Lane every week with his son, occasionally I went with them and I think this was when Notts was embedded as my team, although, like my Yorkshire cousins, I originally had a soft spot for Leeds. During the 3 day week and Sunday football I remember my Dad taking me to both Notts and F****t games a couple of times. I preferred being at the Lane and having reached my t eens started to go down on my own steam meeting up with friends from Woodborough. And that was it - mostly pain for life with bits of immense pleasure thrown in every now and then.

[Elite_Pie]

As I said before, I like to see Forest do well - but of course, Notts doing well is more important.

I agree with your last bit, but as long as I have a pulse I would never want to see Forest do well.

[upthemaggies]

Despite the FA Cup win over the river I don't think we were seen as little brother. With Hateley, Roby, Astle & co we were on the up and I was on the bandwagon. It didn't happen, down we went again after failing to reach the second tier then the financial issues started. Ex-Red players took on the role of managing and saving the club, Burkitt and Billy Gray, and I think this was the time we were seen as little brother being saved by the Reds.

Whilst the FA Cup was the thing to win, maybe it wouldn't have placed as much weight on the scales in their favour if they'd won it 8 years earlier when very few people had a television set. Also 1966/67, their best ever season at the time, coincided with "Match of the Day" being moved to the nationally available BBC1 (it had only had a tiny audience on BBC2), then in the late 1970s with audience figures at levels way above what they are now, they have the most charismatic manager ever to appear in front of a TV camera. So their ascent pretty much dovetails with the golden age of TV. That level of exposure in the 3 channel era probably did as much for them as the trophies did in terms of hoovering up the Nottingham support.