COVID, You and Forest

[DizzyBala]

I wanted to make this thread and wanted to see how everyone else felt really about the the pandemic and it's effect on being a Nottingham Forest football supporter.
As of writing this, it's been 329 days since the Millwall game, which is the last time we sat in the City Ground.

So, I'd like to know from the rest of you that went to the games too, have you missed it?
What have you missed most about not being able to go? How are you feeling about going again at some point, when do you think that will be?
If they opened up football stadiums following the end of lockdown, would you be wanting to be one of the first ones in or are you feeling some sort of trepidation about going back given how the last 300+ days have gone with COVID?
Have you still got your passion for supporting Forest?

For me personally, I found it quite difficult in the beginning. I'm a season card holder (share it with my dad) and I'm used to going to almost every game in the season, buying the new shirt etc..
For me, watching the game is just a part of the experience.
It's the routine, travelling to the game, seeing the floodlights lit up going over the bridge, getting some overpriced lukewarm grub, sitting in the cold for two hours then talking about the game on the way home with me dad.

That being said, I found myself especially this season being quite disconnected from Forest. Not necessarily for the on the pitch stuff because lets face it, we're used to it not going well at this point but not being able to go.
Seeing the City Ground empty on television when a games on, no rousing rendition Mull of Kintyre, no Derby or Leeds at home to go to. Didn't want to buy the shirt this season, season ticket has been on a rolling refund.

My dad's recently unfortunately picked up COVID which given how it's affected people, he's doing better now but you know never how that's going to go but Forest has always been something we've done together.
I'm not sure when we'll all be allowed to go back and I think i'll probably give it a bit of time before I go back, but what I have learned is that Forest for me is much more than just the result.

 

[Agent Penguin]

I used to go with my Dad. Started with the reserves in the late 70s and then on to the first team. Started off in the East Stand and then on to the Bridgford End. Boy were we spoiled.

Followed them around all over the place.

As my Dad got older his visits were less frequent until he was unable to go.

My visits dwindled a bit. Other commitments and a bit of apathy, but my conversations with my Dad generally revolved around Forest and cricket.

Sadly, he passed away in April with Covid.

Once we are able to visit the City Ground again it’s going to be quite an effort to go, as I know how emotional it will be for me.

 

[Timothy Pope]

I started going with my Mrs stepdad long before we got married. Then my dad got a season ticket with me a couple of years before he died although he lasted less than a season before passing it on to my brother.
I stopped going for a while when we had babies and then restarted when my eldest was about 12. We’ve had season tickets since although now he has lent his ticket to our 8 year old whilst he’s mostly been working away.
I’ve missed going but Ifollow has helped with that. In fact now I watch nearly every game whereas I would often not bother with away games.
I’m not rushing to go back though. Not until it’s properly safe to do so


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[Raymondo Ponte']

Started going at 5 year old, and on my own steam at 11 year old. Loved every minute.

Don't miss the actual football (last two decades as rendered that pointless), just miss the matchday experience like loads on here.

I'll go back instantly to gerraway from aar Gert fer half a day

 

[Matt]

I used to go with my Dad. Started with the reserves in the late 70s and then on to the first team. Started off in the East Stand and then on to the Bridgford End. Boy were we spoiled.

Followed them around all over the place.

As my Dad got older his visits were less frequent until he was unable to go.

My visits dwindled a bit. Other commitments and a bit of apathy, but my conversations with my Dad generally revolved around Forest and cricket.

Sadly, he passed away in April with Covid.

Once we are able to visit the City Ground again it’s going to be quite an effort to go, as I know how emotional it will be for me.

I'm so sorry for your loss mate, hope you're dealing with it okay.

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

Started going as a teen, moved to Notts and got an ST as a young adult, moved back to the village late 20's but carried on going with local mates who went, which grew into around 2/3 carfuls of us going regular under Davies, and it was right f***ing top crack pre/post match (we were spread around various parts of the ground in groups of 3-4).

They sacked Davies, a few of the lads knocked some sprogs out, and before you knew it we were lucky to fill 1 car early 10's, with the late Fazza era often seeing me have to drag a few Sheff U mates to games, ragging the ST in, and flitting around various stands with day tripper mates too.

Met our lass tho and her best mates are a couple of ST holders, so dogged on with them for a lot of games under EM, but my health going to shit has put a kink in attending, and Covid obviously too.

Covid has actually come at a good time for me, because attending matches was getting harder & harder with health. I miss a lot about the peak period of supporting the club under Davies, but those years aren't ever coming back now, so it's just grin & bare it all & try to see the humour/comedy in all the shite.

Be nice to think I could be stood watching us thrash Watford to go top, with a belly full of ale & a night on the town to look forward to after, but reality is streaming & 'twireless us get spanked most weeks, whilst laid up under a blanket most Sat's, with a belly full of bonebroth

Connection with the club was kicked in the sack hugely when they sacked Pearce prematurely, but EM's arrival promised a lot of hope. Which has been duly kicked in the sack by their actions, and re-created said disconnect.

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

I used to go with my Dad. Started with the reserves in the late 70s and then on to the first team. Started off in the East Stand and then on to the Bridgford End. Boy were we spoiled.

Followed them around all over the place.

As my Dad got older his visits were less frequent until he was unable to go.

My visits dwindled a bit. Other commitments and a bit of apathy, but my conversations with my Dad generally revolved around Forest and cricket.

Sadly, he passed away in April with Covid.

Once we are able to visit the City Ground again it’s going to be quite an effort to go, as I know how emotional it will be for me.

Big love dude :cuddle:

 

[GOBIAS]

My Dad went as a kid but stopped from about 81-87 when us kids were born. From 87-92 he started taking me to maybe 5-10 home games a season and I became obsessed. It was everything to me, all I thought about, all I talked about, all I dreamt about. From 1992 we had season tickets and to be honest until my daughter was born it was still my main obsession, main hobby and the thing I thought about and dedicated most effort towards, especially living away from Nottm. Also used to do maybe 10 always a season.
But since 2013 I have barely been (a couple of local aways and maybe one home game a season) but it has been easier to follow on tv than ever before. My daughter is 8 this April and this season I had earmarked as a good time to take her to Nottm for a weekend. Stay over (she loves staying in hotels and having a buffet breakfast more than anything bless), cinema, bit of shopping, museum but based around going to her first Forest match. Anyway that will wait. I would never go again as regularly as I used to as you get out the habit and other things come in to play but I will go more regularly down the line, prefer away games so probably pick up more of them.

As for COVID football it is hard to say for me as I have been out the habit anyway. Ten or certainly 15-20 years ago not going would have destroyed me!! I have mentioned before but I can’t stand watching the football in empty stadiums. It has highlighted how much the fans participation is everything. I haven’t bothered watching any games since the first couple. I found the first game back at the city ground after lockdown strangely sad.

My Dad who still has a ST and is 70 now misses going to the game with me, but he’s actually settled in to the home viewing thing. Not sure he will go back full time as the habit has finally been broken and if there is a slight risk he won’t take it.

 

[MASE]

Been a season ticket holder in BC upper H for as long as I care to remember. started going with my step dad, he passed, carried on going with an old mate from Hucknall, he's just passed.

Suffice to say there aint a queue of people looking to take the seat going forward.

What Covid has proved is after donkeys years of following the club, support has been largely a habit & matchday at the city ground is a massive part of that. My support will never die, but its clearly been diluted by not getting to the ground.

 

[Redemption]

I don't get to many home matches the last few years but I try to get in as many NW games as is possible in a season and some London games.

I'm definitely missing those.

But - and this is a function of my forest addiction - I'd like to go back to not being able to watch the games on the internet only having the radio on ifollow. I know I have a choice today and I could stop watching, only if there is an opportunity to watch then I feel compelled.

So my going back normality might not involved reviving visits to the WFCG but I would like my normality back.



And to all though who have lost there football companions be it Dads or mates, have my heart felt condolences.

 

[Master Yates]

Thought this was another one of those bloody student surveys when I saw the title.

Yeah, miss going to Forest, especially away games. Can’t wait for covid to f*** off so I can go to football on Saturday again.


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[GaribaldiReds]

Some sports are about as watchable without spectators as with them (F1, indoor bowls, sailing, World's Strongest Man...) but football in empty stadiums is dismal.

Missing home games for the pubs & witty banter. Missing away games for the same reasons plus the experience of exploring another city (unless it's Rotherham).

 

[Bryn Gunn]

My parents started to take me in 1980, I had home season tickets for years and they took me to a lot of away games until I started to want to go with my mates as I got older.
My parents stopped going when Platt was manager and never returned, I nearly got them to go under Davies but they were worried they’d get drawn in again with just one game

I’ve had spells away from Forest and football before, I stopped going when my daughter was born and I stopped going when I was working in London. So in some ways this break isn’t really a huge disruption looking at the bigger picture.

Like the original poster, football and Forest for me is all about being there. The stadium, the smells, the songs, the pubs, friends, bumping into old friends you haven’t seen for years and the characters that have followed the club for years.
Made me realise the football is in some ways secondary and I support the club for what it has been and the memories it has given me in those 40 years as much as for what it is now. It’s an extended family.

I miss all those things but I have become comfortable not having to make the effort to go and listening to games. I’m in no rush to get back if it will be a hazardous hobby and same goes for watching concerts and gigs which I have also always done.

If we get the all clear I’ll be there.

 

[GOBIAS]

My parents started to take me in 1980, I had home season tickets for years and they took me to a lot of away games until I started to want to go with my mates as I got older.
My parents stopped going when Platt was manager and never returned, I nearly got them to go under Davies but they were worried they’d get drawn in again with just one game

I’ve had spells away from Forest and football before, I stopped going when my daughter was born and I stopped going when I was working in London. So in some ways this break isn’t really a huge disruption looking at the bigger picture.

Like the original poster, football and Forest for me is all about being there. The stadium, the smells, the songs, the pubs, friends, bumping into old friends you haven’t seen for years and the characters that have followed the club for years.
Made me realise the football is in some ways secondary and I support the club for what it has been and the memories it has given me in those 40 years as much as for what it is now. It’s an extended family.

I miss all those things but I have become comfortable not having to make the effort to go and listening to games. I’m in no rush to get back if it will be a hazardous hobby and same goes for watching concerts and gigs which I have also always done.

If we get the all clear I’ll be there.

The smells. Farts, beer, smoke, fried onions. If only you could bottle it.

My first memories of going to Forest were with Dad. It was 87 ish and we’d go in that trent bridge cafe. It was full of old characters. The toilet seat was always covered in piss, we’d see this old boy in there every week we went and have the same sort of conversation with him and I could never understand how he didn’t remember us!! I always had egg and chips and a lucozade.

 

[DapperDan]

I have had a season ticket in the Trent End Upper for years. Pretty sure the Millwall game was where I picked up COVID and it hit me pretty hard. Regardless I will be back as soon as they say we can go.

I think I miss the pre match build up and socialising in the pub as much as anything. Even if we are allowed back in reduced numbers I cannot see the pre game packed pubs being a thing until much later, which will take a lot away from the match day experience for me.