Nottingham Forest FC Ends The Long Wait

By Pa Modou Faal

Nottingham Forest Football Club this season ended the 30-year long wait to reclaim the city’s prestige at the highest level of football in the country. The wait has been so long that every year, the Robin Hood spirit rekindles the love, support and trust in the supporters towards their gallant club and players. Until Sheffield United’s strength awakened the fierceness in the players and officials, Nottingham Forest sent the alarming warnings to whoever was going to Wembley to meet them in the play-offs for onward qualification to the English Premier League (EPL). Despite their recent presence in the EPL, Huddersfield could not deny the hungry young lads from the Midlands their ascension to the highest ranks of national football. The panic, fear yet zeal and tenacity, struck both players and fans during their home game against Sheffield United at the Forest City Ground stadium after a long and tough contested game which ended in a penalty shootout. The scores became frightening as the grip was on the verge of being loosened after a remarkable comeback but the discipline as a TEAM kept them going, defying the critics while Samba’s gloves became the saviour. Forest was at the near bottom when the new gaffer Steve Cooper took over in September 2021. What became a worry ended into a success story. Cooper is quoted saying that Nottingham Forest reminded the world “how special and magical a club they are after their fight to return to the topflight Premier League football”. Following their Wembley Victory, they converged on the Nottingham City Ground at the Market Square where they were greeted and celebrated by thousands of Forest fans. All of a sudden, the City Ground and its surroundings turned red in the colours of the club. The club officials and players celebrated together with the fans and thanked them for their support all the way. Nottingham has joined other cities across the country to host tens of thousands of EPL football fans in the city which will attract massive economic growth and boost investment in housing and hospitality. Local businesses will experience increase in sales and the branding of the city for tourism will flourish. Sports especially football, is not just a game that is played for people to watch and players to win trophies, it is also a financial benefit to the private and public sectors. Here is a brief history of Nottingham Forest Football Club:

• 1978-79 European Cup Season: Forest won 1-0 against Malmo FF • 1979 European Super cup Forest won Barcelona 2-1 aggregate • 1979-80 European Cup: finalist against Hamburg winning 1-0 • 1980 European Super Cup Forest lost to Valencia

CF in a 2-2 aggregate away goal disadvantage. • 1983-84 lost heavily at UEFA Cup semifinal 0-3 to

Anderlecht RSC in Brussels leading prior to the game by 2-0 • 1995-96 UEFA Cup: quarter-final stage – lost 2-7 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. (Last European appearance.

Won Continental league titles, 1 Super Cup

In 1977, Forest was promoted to the topflight and the following season they won the league title (the first in the club’s history), making Brian Clough one of only four managers to have won the English league with two clubs. Clough stayed on as Forest manager for another decade and won two more League Cups (1989 and 1990) and reached the FA Cup final in 1991 but could not repeat his earlier successes. In Clough’s last decade at the club, Nottingham Forest won the 1989 and 1990 League Cups and were losing finalists in the 1991 FA Cup Final. The club relegated from the Premier League in 1993, after which Clough retired from football.

KURDISH NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

By Pa Modou Faal

The Kurdish New Year which is otherwise known as Newroz was celebrated by the Kurdish community living in Nottingham. The event which was held at the Meadows Community Centre brought together men, women and children of the New and Emerging Kurdish Community in Nottingham to dine, dance and wine in celebration for witnessing another year in their lives. Newroz like any other culture, is celebrated with the objective of forging and fostering good neighbourliness, promotion of peaceful existence and love and respect for each other. It also coincides with the Persian new year holiday and the beginning of spring. The Kurdish community in Nottingham is a new member of the ethnic minorities of the city which exhibits the hospitality, friendliness and accommodative attributes of the city of Nottingham and its residents. There was a display for traditional Kurdish food and drinks blended with the Kurdish traditional attire and dance. It was also graced by members of the community who work with them in the city.