The Vital Forest Fan Interview: Nanpantan Red

Q – How long have you been following Forest and what was your first game?

My father first took me down to the CG when I was about 5 or 6 and that would be in the Third Division days of Wally Ardron, so I have been following them for around 60 years.

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

Good. Obviously all the promotions and Cup wins, either European or domestic. Due to family/work commitments I didn`t get to either of the European Cup Finals, but beating Liverpool in the `78 League Cup Final was very pleasing. I also particularly enjoyed the demolition of Manchester City in 73/74 in that infamous Sunday FA Cup game, which will always be remembered as Duncan McKenzie`s finest moment.

Bad. Obviously Hillsborough, and the defeat in the replayed match, where it seemed the whole nation, apart from Forest fans, were willing Liverpool to win. FA cup final defeats against Spurs, and the League Cup Final defeats against Wolves (Shilton/Needham fiasco) and Manchester Utd. And obviously the sadly too many relegations.

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

Top 11. Shilton
Anderson
Walker
Burns
Pearce
O`Neill
Bowyer
Webb
Robertson
Francis
Birtles

All time favourite player. Many will pick stalwarts like Pearce or Robertson, but I did like the grace of Neil Webb.

Q – What would you say is the best goal you have seen Forest score?

Others have picked some I could have chosen; Metgod`s free kick against West Ham, and Crosby`s cheeky steal from Andy Dibble. There are too many to pick just one. Pearce`s free kick in the FA cup final, the way Steve Hodge leant into the wall. Ian Storey-Moore`s triple effort against Andy Rankin in the 6th round of the FA Cup 66/67, when it was saved, then he hit the bar, before he finally got it into the onion bag. But, perhaps controversially, I have chosen the winner scored by Brian Rice in the away 6th round tie against Arsenal which got us through to the 87/88 semi-final. Nigel took a pass just about on the halfway line, and in his usual fashion he had controlled it and passed it in one movement into the path of Brian Rice who was rushing(?) forward and beating the offside trap. As he ran towards the goal with defenders in pursuit I was thinking “they must catch him” and “if he shoots he`ll miss”, but with a blinding shot it was past the keeper and in, off the underside of the bar though. Great to beat Arsenal at Highbury.

Q – Best and worst away ground visited?

Best league ground, given that I haven`t visited them all, would be Highbury, or the old Maine Road.
Worst. The Shay, Halifax, where we beat them 4-0 in the pouring rain in 87/88 on our way to the above-mentioned semi against Liverpool. Calvin Plummer scored.

Q – What are your thoughts on the proposed new stadium?

As long as it`s south of the Trent, I wouldn`t mind.

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

Blackstock, Camp, Gunter (though I`d like to see Moloney given the chance he deserves) and a good left back. The 2 we`ve got are not up to it. No to Anderson (give McCleary his chance), no to Lynch (see above) and no to McSheffrey (injury might be more long term)

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

I used to stand at the Bridgford end in the pouring rain, so given that all seater also means covered, what do you think? Seriously, I do not want to stand ever again at a football match, except at the local park.

Q – What are your thoughts on how Forest did last season and how did it compare to your expectations?

I genuinely thought that we would do better than we did. Under CC we would have done even worse though.

Q – What are your expectations for next season in the Championship?

Depends who Billy signs. I think that we have a nucleus of very talented youngsters, who will all be older and we hope wiser next season.

Q – What League position will Forest occupy at the end of the 2009/10 season?

I would hope for a top 6 place, but anything less than a top ten would be failure.

Q – What’s your opinion of Billy Davies and what he’s done at NFFC, since arriving in January?

I too wasn`t happy with the choice, though we obviously had to get rid of CC. I have been absolutely delighted that he has kept faith with the “Forest style” of football, and added some backbone to the players. A breath of fresh air.

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

Upper Bridgford, 4 rows back, just behind the scoreboard.

Q – Name the celebrity you would most like to bang.

You will have worked out my age from the first answer, so I should be grateful for anything these days, but it`s not at the top of my priority list at the moment. Though that new girl on “Countdown”, Rachel, is rather gorgeous. (Those of you who are not retired will have to watch it “on demand”)

Thanks to Nanpantan Red for taking the time to answer the questions. If you would like to take part, you’ll find a copy of the questions HERE. Just email your answers to forest@vitalfootball.co.uk. Next up…it’s RogueMonkey_NFFC‏.