The Vital Forest Fan Interview: Dulwich Red

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

Since age 8 in 1965, so 48 years ! First game was Burnley v Forest at Turf Moor it was 1-1 and the wonderful Joe Baker scored first for us.

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

I still remember the Ian Storey Moore hat trick coming back against Everton to win 3-2 at the City Ground in the cup – despite the success of the Clough years the feeling of excitement I got then was greater than anything I have experienced before or since.
Worse moment, wasn’t relegation to D3 (old money) but was disappointment of the Platt period – looking back he didn’t half build himself up…and oh dear, he was that bad!

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


Alan Hill (unsung hero!),Anderson, McKinley/or Cooper, Walker, Pearce, Stone, Guedioura, (Archie) Gemmill, Storey-Moore, Collymore, Van Hooijdonk.

ummm very attack minded I guess. Smile.

All time fav player is Pearce.

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

I don’t get to that many games these days but….
Worse moment live was – Home defeat to Millwall 1-4 !! and the arrival of McLeish – can decide which ones worse !
Best moment live was away win at Charlton, we walked all over them a miracle it was only 0-2 to us.

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

Good in the round – but if they had wanted Billy in the first place, they should have gone for him!
Hope I am still saying this after the transfer window shuts!

Q – Best and worst away ground visited?
Selhurst Park is crap especially for away fans, hope they demolish the Arthur Waite stand.
Actually my fav ground other than Forest is Champion Hill where Dulwich Hamlet play, my local team (Kevin James former Forest is currently playing very well for them).

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

It’s got to be Guedioura I really think he is a cut above the pack and Prem quality – we MUST hold onto him.

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

Fast tricky right winger, either Kighty or Gayle someone like that. Oh and must get Billy Sharp back.

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

Nowadays as I am older…they are defo a good thing.

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

Some good flashes under Sean O`D – like taking Leeds apart – but his teams are always too slow and can get predictable and often lacked fight.
Much better when Billy came back, tighter, higher energy levels, better pressing and challenging opposition – but predictably progress hampered by unbalanced squad – no speed, no proper wide players etc
Getting so near the play offs was a great achievement given all that had gone on! Billys back and great to have that feeling again that we are all in this together!


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

If we bring in the right players and hold onto Geddy (which we must) we will get into the play off`s.


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?

Hard to say I dont really get the in`s and out`s of FFP or if there are any ways around it…so who can say. In any case its hard to just buy success in any league.


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

Collymore otherwise I do think we would have gotten established back in the Prem.


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

Big fan – love the we are all in this together attitude…he really includes the fans gets us fired up…its emotional…but its great and yes I do think he is the best manager in the Championship and will get us promoted.

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

I wouldn’t have appointed him in the first place….but seeing as we did I think it was unfair the way he was sacked when he was – worse was employing the disaster McLeish!

Q – New stadium, or renovate the City Ground?

City Ground everytime!

Q – If you could put one question or make one request to Mr.Fawaz Al-Hasawi, what would it be?

Can you please give Billy the time he needs to really get it right this time – it might take longer than 1 more season.

Q – Where do you sit/stand at the City Ground?

Usually Trent End lower.

Q – Name the celebrity you would most like to meet

Jon Courtney (main man from sadly broken up music group Pure Reason Revolution).

Many thanks to Dulwich Red 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.