The Vital Forest Fan Interview: Cholo

Q – How long have you been following Forest and do you remember your first game?

I first heard the roar of the crowd in our back garden when I was just a kid in short trousers. At Primary school we were given red or black & white football shirts and it was Forest from then on. First game would have been 1950/51 season but I can`t remember much about it to be honest.

Q – What are your most memorable moments as a Forest fan? Good and Bad.

Forest v Everton 1967 semi final – best game and best atmosphere I’ve ever seen anywhere.
Worst moment would be a mid-week night kick about in the cold & the rain between us and Ipswich I think it was. Both teams were going through the motions and it was cynical exploitation of the paying customers. I said f**k this at half time and walked out. I didn’t go back for back for a long time after that.

Q – Since you have been following Forest, what would your best starting eleven be and who is your all time favourite player?

Impossible to pick a team – enough class candidates for 3 teams but you would have to include Shilts, Psycho, Trevor, and Viv, then maybe Des Walker, Larry Lloyd, Terry Hennessey, Liam O`Kane, Burnsy & Gemmill, Stan Collymore, Ian Storey-Moore, John Robertson, Frank Wignall, (no Keane for me incidentally) but there are far more. We’ve had some damn good players over the years. My all time favourite was Duncan McKenzie – you never knew quite what he’d do but sheer magic when he was in the mood.

Q – What is your best and worst moment of the 2012/13 season?

The arrival of Billy was a turning point in a what had been an unsettled season and I was pleased to see him back. I was upset about missing the play-offs – we threw it away when it was within our grasp. I thought ‘not again’ but blow it we did.

Q – In your opinion, how have the new owners performed since taking over the club last July?

Well you could hardly call it a planned campaign but by the end of the season we`re seem to be in a strong position – certainly better than we were at the start. I can`t say I`ve seen any billionaire type action yet and getting information is like pulling teeth. Unless the owner wants to spend his life in the Championship, he’ll need to get his finger out over the next few months so let’s see what he’s made of.

Q – Best and worst away ground visited?

Don`t like any away grounds but the old Baseball Ground was a real bugger.

Q – Who is your Nottingham Forest player of the season?

As I can no longer make the CG unfortunately I`m not prepared to comment on performances. I have make to do with Fray and John Mc. But if you want to judge players, you’ve got to see them for yourself.

Q- Which player(s) would you like to see Forest sign this summer (realistically)?

Well if Fawaz can afford to buy any club in the world, then I assume he can afford some decent players. We’ve seen his garage full of Ferraris so he knows the value of class and I would like to see a squad of thoroughbreds here. I think my message is ‘don’t piss about with this promotion business – get the job done now’.

Q – All seater stadia. Good thing, or a bad thing?

Got to be right – people must be safe at matches and it only takes a couple of idiots at the back to start a landslide down a terrace. Miss the atmosphere though.

Q – What are your thoughts on how the team performed last season and how did it compare with your expectations

Did anyone have expectations at the start of last year? Bloody sure I didn’t. The safety of mid table sounded good and SOD looked about right but I was wrong on both counts. We did very well all things considered.

Q – What are your expectations for next season in the Championship/Where will we finish?

We’d better finish in the top two or there will be a lot of Forest fans asking a lot of questions about putting your money where your mouth is.

Q- Much has been said about the wealth of our new owners. Do you think they will spend their way to promotion, or adopt a more frugal approach in trying to achieve it?

I haven’t a clue but I can`t wait to find out.

Q – Name a former Forest player you were most disappointed to see sign for another club?

Wes I think. He was part of the furniture and Forest through and through. A really good bloke in my book and he’ll be remembered long after many are forgotten.

Q – What’s your opinion on Billy Davies and will he bring success to the club?

I’ve already had my say on that elsewhere. I wanted him here because I thought he was the right man for the job at that time. He will be very determined to succeed and he`ll know that there`s a lot riding on him. I wish him luck.

Q – In your opinion, was it the right or wrong decision to sack Sean O’Driscoll?

I thought it was wrong. Hindsight may be accurate but it`s pointless.

Q – New stadium, or renovate the City Ground?

Renovate – no question.

Many thanks to Cholo for taking the time out to answer the questions. If you would like to take part, you can find a copy of the questions Here. Send your answers to forest@vitalfootball.co.uk.