5/8/06 - The Reds got their second season in league one underway with a 1-0 win at home to Bradford City, courtesy of a Julian Bennett goal on 10 minutes. It wasn't all good as Tyson went off injured after only a few minutes and Grant Holt missed a penalty!​

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6/8/06 - Forest started life in league one for the 1st time since 1950/51 with a 2-1 win over Huddersfield in front of an excellent 24,042 at the CG, thanks to a late winner from David Johnson. Things however would very soon deterioate.

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7/8/99 - Forest 's ill fated period of history under David Platt began with a hammering at Ipwsich 3-1, in reality it could have been more. The money he had wasted on his Italian trio didn't look too good and as time went on it only got worse.

 

7/8/04 - Forest began, what in my opinion, was the worst season in our history, at least since I have been on the planet with a battling 1-1 draw at Wigan ... in stifflingly hot weather. At this stage, although outplayed largely ... you could not imagine the full horrors that would follow.

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8/8/09 - Just as in the previous season, Forest started with a 0-0 draw against Reading, this time however away from home. This time however, the season would be taking a very different path.

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9/9/03 - After the heart break of the previous season, the Reds got off to a good start with a 2-0 win against relegated Sunderland in front of 23,529 at the CG, and all looked well. Things though would soon take a turn for the worse.

 

9/8/97 - A huge Forest following at Port Vale saw the Reds off to a winning start, 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Kevin Campbell. The gloom of the previous seasons relegation from the Premier league & that embarrasing 5-0 defeat at Newcastle already seemed in the distanr past.

 

9/8/11 - Although there was nothing good in Steve Mclaren's short tenure at the CG, we were treated to a cracker in the 1st Round of the league cup where Forest edged out neighbours Notts County 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw AET at the CG, and that stunning last gasp equaliser by Wes Morgan.

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10/8/68 - My first FULL season watching the Reds began with a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley, courtesy of goals from Terry Hennessey & Jim Baxter, 2 very talented footballers, in front of 30,298 at the CG. 

 

10/8/02 - The long trip to Portsmouth for this opening day fixture and a 2-0 defeat was memorable for one thing, the surprise return of hero Des Walker. It would turn out to be a memorable season. It was also memorable I am sure for my now wife Cheryl, who had been with me a few weeks only and I 'treated her' to this 'day out'.

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11/8/01 - Forest began life without Platt which was a relief in itself, with Paul Hart now at the helm. As you would expect there was already a noticable difference in the style of football, and young players also introduced to the starting line up. We led 1-0 for most of the game, courtesy of a Marlon Harewood goal ... only for Sheff Utd to equlaise just 2 minutes from time in front of an excellent crowd of 25,513.

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12/8/06 - A day of mixed fortunes! The Reds won 1-0 at Northampton, but Notts CCC lost in the Final of the T20 Cup at Trent Bridge, a game which went down to the last ball, and a shockingly poor umpiring decision, otherwise Notts may well have won. For once, I had to miss both as my brother had decided to get married on this day!

 

There were a few instances of 12th August being a little dull with 0-0 draws against Stoke in 1969, Ipswich in 1970 & Portsmouth in 1972.

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13/8/05 - If anyone thought that after the 1st game of the season in League One, promotion back to the Championship was going to be stright forward, they were soon given a reality check as the Reds suffered a 2nd consecutive defeat, this time going down 2-1 at Swindon, and leaving us in 16th place in the table. It would get worse before it got better.

 

13/8/11 - A dreadful performance under Steve Mclaren saw us lose 2-0 at Millwall, and it could have been much worse. It would set the tone for the early weeks of what would turn out to be an awful season

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14/8/71 - The ill fated 1971/72 season got underway with a battling performance against LIverpool at Anfield, but we still went down 3-1, the Forest goal unsurprisingly from Ian Storey-Moore.

 

14/8/02 - Following opening day defeat at Portsmouth, the Reds battled back from 2-0 down to earn a draw with Preston in front of 18,605 at the CG, leaving us in 19th place , but ... the season would soon improve.

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15/8/70 - Forest began their home games with a 2-0 win against Coventry at the CG in front of 25,137, goals from Barry Lyons & Ian Storey-Moore. Strangely, the season itself had commenced, on a Wednesday 3 days earlier at Ipswich, where we earned a goaless draw. We would not lose in the first six games earning 2 wins and 4 draws, a rare good start in my very formative Forest years.

 

15/8/93 - Following our relegation from the first ever Premier League season, life in 'Division 1' began with a 1-1 draw at Southend after conceding a goal in the very 1st minute, the equalier courtesy of our leader and captain Stuart Pearce from the penalty spot.

 

15/8/97 - Back in Division 1 again after 'another' relegation from the Premier League, we started out home programme on a Friday night where we battered Norwich 4-1 in front of the Sky camera's to complete an excellent 1st week of the season, a win at Port Vale on the opening day followed by an 8-0 drubbing away at Doncaster in the League Cup 3 days later.

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16/8/75 - The Reds commenced their 1st full season under Brian Clough will a 2-0 home win against Plymouth, and an afternoon of some serious crowd trouble. Cloughie himself helps to restore order and was not happy at the behaviour of some fans, and not for the 1st time.

 

16/8/92 - The opening weekend of the season that would change the face of football forever ... The Premier League. Forest beat Liverpool 1-0 at the CG, the 1st live Premier League game to be screened by Sky for 'Super Sunday', the winning goal, a cracker from Teddy Sherringham. No Forest fans in their 'wildest nightmares' could have imagined how the season would pan out.

 

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17/8/85 - Forest start the season on the new plastic pitch at Luton and earn a 1-1 draw courtesy of a Neil Webb goal.

 

17/8/92 - The final season of the  top division of the Football League gets underway with a 2-1 victory over Everton at the CG after trailing 0-1 at the interval, goals from Nigel Clough and a late winner from Nigel Jemson.

 

17/8/96 - All looks well for the season as a Kevin Campbell hat-trick secures an opening day 3-0 win at Coventry ... things would very soon start to turn very badly ... & another nightmare season, on and off the pitch ... which ultimately would end in relegation ... again. 

 

17/8/98 - The Reds commenced what is to date, our last season in the Premier league with a Monday night trip down to Champions Arsenal. Considering our excellent strike force from the previous promotion season was not present (Campbell had been sold & Van Hooijdonk was on strike), a 2-1 defeat represented a credible effort. We would win the next 2 games elevating us to 2nd in the table, but then fail to win in the next 19. The season would end in relegation again for the 3rd time from the Premier League, we have not yet returned.

 

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18/8/79 - The Reds , now European Champions, travelled to Ipswich for the season opener and secured a 1-0 win , courtesy of a goal from Tony Woodcock.  It was though an afternoon of 'unsavoury' activity on the terraces. 

 

18/8/93 - Arch rivals Derby are the 1st visitors to the CG and the spolis are shared in a 1-1 draw, our goal from Ian Woan. The season would get worse before it got very much better.

 

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19/8/67 - My first season watching the Reds began with a 3-1 win at Sheffield Utd on the opening day of the season, aged just 6 years old. I cannot really remember very much except that having come so close to the double the previous season, my Dad and others were very optimistic about the season.

 

19/8/78 - Champions of England, Nottingham Forest begin their defence of the title with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham in front of a capacity City Ground crowd of 41,223, the Tottenham side, including Argentine World Cup winning stars, Ricardo Villa & Osvaldo Ardiles. The day also sees crowd trouble, before during and after the match as pitched battles are fought all over the place.

 

19/8/95 - The Reds begin their campaign with an impressive 4-3 win at Southampton, which included a hat trick for Saints star Matt Le Tissier. Thoughts that  we may not miss Stan Collymore however would soon evaporate as the season unfolded.

 

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20/8/77 - After a 5 season absence, the Reds began what would be their finest ever league season with a stunning 3-1 win at Everton, with goals from Withe, Robertson & O'Neill. 'Forest are back' rang out from the 8,000 or so travelling fans.

 

20/8/94 - Promoted back to the Premier League after a one season absence, Forest secured a 1-0 win at Ipswich, courtesy of a stunning goal from new signing Bryan Roy. Although Stan Collymore was absent from this game, the two would soon strike up a wonderful partnership & an excellent season beckoned.

 

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21/8/71 - The Reds recorded thier 1st win of the season defeating West Ham at the CG, courtesy of an Ian Storey-Moore penalty in front of 17,185 at the CG ... we would not win again until 26th October, by which time we were deep in relegation trouble ... again.

 

21/8/76 - There were a healthy Forest following at Craven Cottage amongst the 9,437 for the season opener in what would ultimately prove an excellent season and which would end in promotion. On this occasion the points were shared with Fulham in a 2-2 draw, the Forest goals coming from John O'Hare & Terry Curran.

 

21/8/93 - Forest picked up their 1st win of the campaign in their 3rd game, in an exciting game at the CG, a 5-3 win against Grimsby Town in front of 23,225, a Forest side still minus Stan Collymore.

 

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22/8/67 - Following an opening day 3-1 win at Sheff Utd, the Reds commenced their home campaign against newly promoted Coventry City. Buoyed by our fantastic 1967/68 season, the match attendance was 44,951, who witnessed a thrilling 3-3 draw, Forest goals coming from Joe Baker, Frank Wignall & Ian Storey-Moore, the same 3 who had scored on the opening day victory & In the case of Baker & Storey-Moore, were responsible for the lion share of the goals in 66/67. When the 2 sides met again, 1 week later at Highfield Road, Forest won 3-1 in front of another massive crowd of 41,212, oh yes and 2 goals from legend Joe Baker, the other from legend Ian Storey-Moore.

 

22/8/92 - After the elation 6 days earlier of beating Liverpool 1-0 in our 1st ever Premier league game , defeat at Sheff Weds midweek 2-0 at Hillsborough was followed by a trip to Oldham, where we found ourselves 5-0 down within an hour. The game ended 5-3 but with Sherringham sold after this game, we all soon began to realise the type of season it was going to be.

 

22/8/94 - Promoted back to the Premier league after a 1 season absence, Forest took on Champions Man Utd at the CG. A wonderful goal from Stan Collymore ensured a 1-1 draw, with United the team hanging on in the end.

 

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23/8/77 - Back in the top flight after a 5 year absence and a 3-1 opening day win at Everton, the Reds welcomed Bristol City to the CG & a late winner from Peter Withe secured the points in front of a disappointing 21,743. 

 

23/8/08 - Back in the Championship after a 3 year absence, the Reds picked up their 1st win, in the 3rd game with a 3-2 victory over Watford at the CG in front of 20,005. We would not win again in the league until the 14th match, but ultimately would survive the relegation battle that we would be part off all season.

 

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24/8/68 - Forest played Leeds at the City Ground with the match abandoned at half time due to the Main Stand fire. Fortunately there were no injuries or fatalities in the crowd of 31,126. The score was 1-1 at the time but when the sides subsequently 'replayed' the game on 25th Feb 1969, Leeds ran out 2-0 winners. Whilst the new stand was being built, Forest played their 'home' games at Meadow Lane, winning none, drawing 3 three & losing two.

 

24/8/91 - The Reds 'travelled' across the river to Meadow Lane in a top flight game, running out comfortable 4-0 winners. Not since the 1991/92 season have the two met in the top flight. The game later in the season at the CG would end in a 1-1 draw on 11th Jan.

 

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25/8/73 - The Reds kicked off what would be a decent season in the 2nd Division with a 4-0 win at home to Luton Town in front of 10,793 at the CG, goals from Tommy Jackson (2), Neil Martin & Duncan Mckenzie.

 

25/8/79 - The Reds made it 3 wins in a row at the start of the season with a 4-1 hammering of Coventry City at the CG in front of 23,025, goals from Tony Woodcock, John McGovern (2) & a John Robertson penalty.

 

25/8/84 - The Reds travelled to Hillsborough to face newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the season, a lively affair especially as it took place in the middle of the miners strike! A 3-1 defeat was not what we were hoping for, the sole Forest goal coming from Peter Davenport.

 

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26/8/72 - The Reds got their 1st win of the season in the 3rd game courtesy of a 2-1 win at the CG against Oxford, goals from George Lyall & Martin O'Neill, worringly only 9,591 turned up to watch.

 

26/8/78 - Forest were finding the 'Champions of England' tag hard to live up to as we travelled to QPR in the 3rd game of the season & this game proved no different in a 0-0 draw, the 3rd successive draw in the pening 3 games with only 1 goal scored.

 

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27/8/77 - After 5 seasons in Division 2, the Reds 'welcomed' Derby County to the CG for 'the' 1st East Midlands derby since 1971/72 season. 2 goals from Peter Withe and 1 from John Robertson ensured a comfortable win in front of 28,807.

 

27/8/88 - The Reds suffered a 2-1 defeat in the season opener at Norwich in front of just 13,488 ... I returned to my car after the game to find a very flat & deliberately damaged tyre ... I don't think somebody liked where I had parked, but I managed to change it on the side of the road much to the amusement of passing by Norwich fans.

 

27/8/01 - A remarkable performance by 9 man Forest held out for around 1/2 hour to earn a 0-0 draw at Coventry. The Sky Blue fans applaud Forest off the field.

 

28/8/90 - The Reds travelled to Anfield & despite a 2-0 defeat performed well, a game most notable for the debut of 19 year old Roy Keane, who would go on to become a world class footballer.

 

28/8/00 - Forest travelled to Crystal Palace for this Bank Holiday fixture and returned with all 3 points with a 3-2 win, having led 3-0. Substitute goalkeeper Roche saved a stoppage time penalty after Beasant had been sent off in the last minute for fighting.

 

29/8/81 - Forest beat Southampton 2-1 at the CG in the season opener, both goals from Trevor Francis in what turned out to be his last home game for us. He would make just 1 more appearance before being sold to Man City.

 

29/8/83 - Having lost the 1st match 1-0 at home to Southampton, the Reds travelled to Old Trafford for this bank holiday fixture and returned with a very welcomed & unexpected 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Anderson & Davenport.

 

29/8/09 - In an eventful East Midlands derby, we beat the Rams 3-2 at the CG, courtesy of goals from Majewski, Blackstock & Tyson ...and of course the infamous flag waving incident!

 

30/8/77 - The Reds are in devastating form in the 2nd Round of the League Cup as West Ham are hammered 5-0 at the CG & our pursuit of the League Cup is underway.

 

31/8/92 - The Reds slip to a 4th consecutive defeat and remain in the relegation zone following this 3-1 defeat at Norwich, in front of the Sky camera's. The opening day win at home to Liverpool seems like a distant memory & the season will only get worse, much worse.

 

** For September 'On this Day', now see section - Sepember to November **

 

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