CITY GROUND MEMORIES
Is That You in the Trent End?
590 Photos from Forest's Golden Age
In this meticulously crafted visual history, Andrew Dolloway delivers what can only be described as a time machine back to football's most improbable fairy tale. Published in 2017, this paperback serves as both a historical document and a love letter to an era that transformed a middling Second Division club into European royalty. The book's greatest strength lies in its extraordinary visual archive featuring 500 black and white and 90 colour photographs that capture not just the matches but the soul of an era. These images chronicle Forest's transformation from struggling underachievers to European kings, viewed through the lens of a decade that would forever define the club.
Dolloway's narrative follows a season-by-season structure, but the heart of the story is, inevitably, Brian Clough. The legendary manager's arrival in 1975 marked the beginning of what The Guardian describes as "the remarkable story" of turning "a struggling Second Division side into European champions – twice". The author skillfully weaves together match reports, personal anecdotes, and player testimonials to recreate the electric atmosphere of those transformative years.
What sets this book apart is its attention to detail and comprehensive coverage. From the early struggles of the decade to the triumphant European Cup victory in 1979, every significant moment is documented with both visual and written precision. The extensive collection of photographs serves not just as illustration but as historical record, capturing everything from crucial match moments to candid behind-the-scenes glimpses of players and staff.
Reader responses have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising its ability to bring back memories of standing on the City Ground terraces. The book succeeds both as a historical document and as a nostalgic journey for those who lived through the era.
However, this isn't just a book for the nostalgic fan. For younger supporters and football historians alike, it provides an invaluable window into what many consider the greatest achievement in English football management. The transformation from Second Division struggles to European Cup glory within three years remains one of football's most extraordinary tales.
The inclusion of 590 photographs makes this not just a historical record but a family album of sorts for Forest supporters. The author's invitation to readers to look for relatives or familiar faces in the crowd shots adds an interactive element that connects past to present, making it more than just a sports book it's a community archive.
While comprehensive in its coverage, the book's real triumph is how it captures the human element of Forest's rise. Through carefully chosen anecdotes and images, Dolloway brings to life not just the trophy wins but the character and spirit that made them possible.
For anyone interested in football history, Nottingham Forest, or simply the art of the possible, this book stands as the definitive account of a remarkable decade. It's both a historical document and a reminder that sometimes, football can write stories that fiction wouldn't dare to imagine.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48
Publisher: Max Media Publishing Ltd
Published: October 26, 2017
Price: £19.99
Paperback: 264 pages
Lavishly illustrated
ISBN-10: 0995478341
ISBN-13: 978-0995478343
Dimensions: 210 x 290 (mm)
