The World Famous City Ground - Home of the PROPER WORLD‘S OLDEST LEAGUE CLUB

[REDDERS78]

I really dont understand the logic behind how close you live making it more or less acceptable to move.

You love the ground and location already, otherwise you wouldn't be a supporter, I mean its been there since 1898. The ground and location is one of the major things that makes us unique as a club. Lets be realistic here, were far more likely to be in the Championship in 10 years than holding events needing 50k people.

A white elephant in the middle of nowhere would absolutely kill the fabric and soul of the club and that about all we have to hang onto. Get the bastarding redevelopment done Forest.

 

[Quntib Hollox]

I would be more likely to get a ST at Notts than I would to go to a game in Toton to watch derbyingham Forest.

If ever announced it will be my relationship with the club done, no 2 ways about it

Like I said if you prefer to watch football in West Bridgford somewhere with modest ambitions that’s probably your best bet.

 

[Quntib Hollox]

We miss Rocka… when life comes on top, you could always know you could come on here and he’d lighten the load. Never met the bloke, but feel like I know him, somehow. Give him my regards and see if you can convince the owd bogger to get back on here and not let the bastards get him down

Yep I hope him and Bonfy get back on here soon.

 

[Otis Redding]

You know in Lord of the Rings where the one ring is destroyed and Sauron is vanquished from Middle Earth? That's kind of what promotion to the Premier League felt like after all the dark years of living in shadow. Even down to Gollum accidentally falling to his death seems to mirror us going up via an own goal. VAR not interfering on those Huddersfield penalty shouts is a bit like the eagles inexplicably showing up and saving us. It didn't seem to make any sense; a deus ex machina saving us against all odds. A god damn miracle. Last season, was all the coronations and reunions, and it was just good to be there.

The trouble is (unlike in the films), the book doesn’t end there. The hobbits return to the Shire to find Saruman has beat them there and wrecked it. The thing they were fighting to save has been destroyed and industrialised. Their home has had its soul tarnished. It'll potentially never be the same again.

If the last 2 seasons were the struggle and pure elation at overcoming the monster, then this season has been the Scouring of the Shire. Now to top off all the off-field bollocks we've had to put up with (some of it the club's own own making, some of it not), the current ownership are apparently serious in wanting to move us to f***ing Toton. While I'd like to hope this is all just posturing and negotiation with the council, I'm not sure I trust anything the club says right now. What's the point in being in the Premier League if your home is gone? The things that made you 'you' compromised? What was it all for?

Apologies for the stretched out and probably pretty thin analogy. But to extend it a little bit further (like butter scraped over too much bread), the hobbits ultimately overthrow Saruman and restore the Shire to its former glory. I hope we do the same and we remain at the WFCG, but that's fantasy, and we live in the real world.

I've noted that Toton has been randomly chucked in as a potential location along with others Cloughie, but I've seen nothing suggesting it's a serious aim.

In fact, nothing I've seen convinces me that all of this is anything other than an embarrassingly clumsy attempt to put pressure on the city council. I am totally convinced however that a suitable compromise will eventually be reached over the City Ground.

 

[REDDERS78]

Like I said if you prefer to watch football in West Bridgford somewhere with modest ambitions that’s probably your best bet.

My best bet is to watch them exactly where I'll be watching them on Saturday.

Assuming you don't go to games then, what with the City Ground not being ambitious enough for you?

 

[Quntib Hollox]

To be fair,Mark-I didn’t say I wouldn’t watch Forest at Toton (although any such move would
take years so I’d probably be too old to go by then or pushing up the daisies).As I posted
yesterday,I’ve got zero confidence the club and the various councils could deliver on an
infrastructure project that would cost millions and millions of pounds to complete.
As much as I admire the ambition of EM,he’s only a custodian of a famous old club and will
invariably move on at some point-leaving the supporters as the only constant.
I think most fans are realistic as to the general position of the club in the football world and
want to see an improved City Ground (even if we can’t achieve the magical 50,000 capacity
that some see as utopia).
I suggest EM and the board get on with delivering what the supporters really want and stop
hiding behind various reasons why it can’t be done (councils,boat club etc).

Apologies Norm, it wasn’t intended as a dig at you but those say they wouldn’t go anywhere near Toton or anywhere else for that matter.
For a number of reasons it may not be a good idea. The cost could be a millstone round our necks for years, the design, acoustics, access, facilities may be rank. Who knows?
But it may just be a fantastic facility and the matchday experience could be even better with a potentially bouncing 45k in there. Let’s not dismiss it out of hand.
Those who are so quick to rule out ever going there are the real plastics and not those who currently are on a wait list to get in.

 

[Strummer]

Apologies Norm, it wasn’t intended as a dig at you but those say they wouldn’t go anywhere near Toton or anywhere else for that matter.
For a number of reasons it may not be a good idea. The cost could be a millstone round our necks for years, the design, acoustics, access, facilities may be rank. Who knows?
But it may just be a fantastic facility and the matchday experience could be even better with a potentially bouncing 45k in there. Let’s not dismiss it out of hand.
Those who are so quick to rule out ever going there are the real plastics and not those who currently are on a wait list to get in.

What concerns me is the logistics of getting there. The beauty of the current location is that it is on multiple bus routes, a ten minute ramble from the main railway station in Nottingham, and not an unreasonable distance (via the station) if you’re coming in the tram.

Toton has what, a tram stop? A network with currency capacity constraints, let alone with potentially 40-50k people descending on it every other weekend. The driving options aren’t much better given the state of the A52 and similar surrounding roads.

Unless you live in Toton or fairly close by, it is most likely going to be an extra journey step for pretty much everyone who (for example) wants to go via public transport, such is the spoke-and hub design of Nottingham‘s current public transport offerings.

 

[Trents]

Indeed, but the only one that matters is the one you have.

This is it, and the thing that irks me is that not many owners have the inclination, funds and dare I say ambition to consider a rebuild or new ground.

Currently we do have such a chairman and I'm delighted to read his recent statement of commitment. Part of me was wondering how many more push backs he could take before losing patience and looking to get out.

The reality is that if the council won't let us touch a City Ground brick and if we want to progress as a club, we'll have to move. Toton can get in the bin. I refuse to believe there isn't a site a lot closer to the city that can be used.

Like everyone else I don't want to leave, but it's starting to sound a bit inevitable. People are suggesting a rebuild on current site but if we can't progress the PT revamp in 5 years, a rebuild is never going to happen.

 

[Quntib Hollox]

As for those who are content to lie on their backs and be teabagged by an owner with no connection to our great city and club, they are definitely not Forest supporters.
The ground is part of our fabric, it's what makes us proud every time we drive over Trent Bridge, it's the bars around the ground where we meet our mates, where we know people from who we would never normally cross paths with, it's where our memories are and where new ones are made, it allows bars and restaurants to exist putting money back into Nottingham, it's ours and the current custodians can fukc off if they think that the vast majority of proper Forest fans will stand for them playing out their dreams at our expense.
What a ridiculous and condescending post @Quntib Hollox I thought you were better than that, I really did.

Wes, I’m going to repeat myself here but I LOVE the City Ground and the lifetime of memories I have of the place but we are hamstrung by its very location. I only care about Forest and can’t comprehend comments that people would stop supporting the club. I’ve followed Forest up and down the country (when I was allowed tickets!) and in Europe. It’s not condescending to question someone who is happy to go support another club at the drop of a hat.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

What concerns me is the logistics of getting there. The beauty of the current location is that it is on multiple bus routes, a ten minute ramble from the main railway station in Nottingham, and not an unreasonable distance (via the station) if you’re coming in the tram.

Toton has what, a tram stop? A network with currency capacity constraints, let alone with potentially 40-50k people descending on it every other weekend. The driving options aren’t much better given the state of the A52 and similar surrounding roads.

Unless you live in Toton or fairly close by, it is most likely going to be an extra journey step for pretty much everyone who (for example) wants to go via public transport, such is the spoke-and hub design of Nottingham‘s current public transport offerings.

Worth remembering as well that not everyone who goes to games lives in Nottingham or the surrounding areas

I have a couple of mates who are season ticket holders who live down in the big smoke and currently travel up on the train and walk from the station

There'd need to be massive infrastructure changes around Toton to make the influx of circa 50k fans even remotely achievable

I just don't see it ever happening

 

[REDDERS78]

Apologies Norm, it wasn’t intended as a dig at you but those say they wouldn’t go anywhere near Toton or anywhere else for that matter.
For a number of reasons it may not be a good idea. The cost could be a millstone round our necks for years, the design, acoustics, access, facilities may be rank. Who knows?
But it may just be a fantastic facility and the matchday experience could be even better with a potentially bouncing 45k in there. Let’s not dismiss it out of hand.
Those who are so quick to rule out ever going there are the real plastics and not those who currently are on a wait list to get in.

I've been following Forest for 40 years, who the f*** are you to call me a "plastic" because I don't agree with you're silly fantasy that were the next Man City?

Absolute Whopper!

 

[Strummer]

Worth remembering as well that not everyone who goes to games lives in Nottingham or the surrounding areas

I have a couple of mates who are season ticket holders who live down in the big smoke and currently travel up on the train and walk from the station

There'd need to be massive infrastructure changes around Toton to make the influx of circa 50k fans even remotely achievable

I just don't see it ever happening

Well, yeah, absolutely.

I live a bit further away than that, but I’d be in the same boat; nearest I can fly to is Birmingham, then train to Nottingham Railway Station. Bit of a ball-ache!

 

[Notcher]

Worth remembering as well that not everyone who goes to games lives in Nottingham or the surrounding areas

I have a couple of mates who are season ticket holders who live down in the big smoke and currently travel up on the train and walk from the station

There'd need to be massive infrastructure changes around Toton to make the influx of circa 50k fans even remotely achievable

I just don't see it ever happening

Can you imagine the carnage at J25 of the M1 which would be right beside the ground. It's bad enough when a junction is located next to an industrial estate at rush hour with 1000 or so people that work there. Now imagine a 50K seater booting out into that. Forget it.

 

[Strummer]

Can you imagine the carnage at J25 of the M1 which would be right beside the ground. It's bad enough when a junction is located next to an industrial estate at rush hour with 1000 or so people that work there. Now imagine a 50K seater booting out into that. Forget it.

Yeah, I remember going to watch Forest away at Reading a few years ago, and although the (former) Madjeski Stadium is right next to a major junction, it was a right mess, and the buses (which go back to the city centre) get caught up in it as well.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Can you imagine the carnage at J25 of the M1 which would be right beside the ground. It's bad enough when a junction is located next to an industrial estate at rush hour with 1000 or so people that work there. Now imagine a 50K seater booting out into that. Forget it.

I know, it's terrible there at that time on a Saturday as it is!

And that's before you even get to the current road infrastructure off the M1 around there - how is everyone driving actually going to get to the ground? As there's no way everyone's going up the A52 and then down through Toton in its current state

They'd have to build a bypass of some sort, but where's it going to go? You've got Long Eaton and the train lines on one side and Chilwell / Beeston on the other, and of course the nature reserve and Trent below

But yeah no need to worry because Toton has a tram stop (!)

I just can't see any way without some major development around the area how you're going to get circa 50k people in and out on matchday

 

[Wes' Organ]

Wes, I’m going to repeat myself here but I LOVE the City Ground and the lifetime of memories I have of the place but we are hamstrung by its very location. I only care about Forest and can’t comprehend comments that people would stop supporting the club. I’ve followed Forest up and down the country (when I was allowed tickets!) and in Europe. It’s not condescending to question someone who is happy to go support another club at the drop of a hat.

I haven't said that I'd support another club but I'd be done with Forest as a match attending fan.
Do you not think that the phrase " at the drop of a hat" completely underestimates what The City Ground means to me and many, many others?
What we have is a wealthy business man sucking money away from our city and into his own pockets. I'm a Nottingham lad and a Forest fan, I wouldn't want my City to suffer to benefit my club.

 

[Quntib Hollox]

My best bet is to watch them exactly where I'll be watching them on Saturday.

Assuming you don't go to games then, what with the City Ground not being ambitious enough for you?

I’ll be there loud and proud Redders don’t worry about that

 

[REDDERS78]

I haven't said that I'd support another club but I'd be done with Forest as a match attending fan.
Do you not think that the phrase " at the drop of a hat" completely underestimates what The City Ground means to me and many, many others?
What we have is a wealthy business man sucking money away from our city and into his own pockets. I'm a Nottingham lad and a Forest fan, I wouldn't want my City to suffer to benefit my club.

I think he's on about my Notts County quip, like AS IF anyone could just support another club It was meant as in how against it I am, my grandad hated Notts and used to use it as an example of anything he didn't like. "I'd rather have a ST at Notts"

Same for me, I'd just take up watching porn more regularly I think.

 

[magicwoand]

I haven't said that I'd support another club but I'd be done with Forest as a match attending fan.
Do you not think that the phrase " at the drop of a hat" completely underestimates what The City Ground means to me and many, many others?
What we have is a wealthy business man sucking money away from our city and into his own pockets. I'm a Nottingham lad and a Forest fan, I wouldn't want my City to suffer to benefit my club.

How is he sucking money away from our city into his own pockets? When he has bankrolled our Premier League journey to the tunes of hundreds of millions. The clue is in how we failed the PSR rules, we've spent more than we've took in.

 

[Wes' Organ]

How is he sucking money away from our city into his own pockets? When he has bankrolled our Premier League journey to the tunes of hundreds of millions. The clue is in how we failed the PSR rules, we've spent more than we've took in.

Much of it on saleable assets.
He'll have a big fat profit waiting when he sells don't worry about that.

 

[magicwoand]

Much of it on saleable assets.
He'll have a big fat profit waiting when he sells don't worry about that.

And thats based on....

 

[Quntib Hollox]

I think he's on about my Notts County quip, like AS IF anyone could just support another club

I was and took it very literally. We all love our club no matter what happens in the future.

 

[Lady Penelope]

I've noted that Toton has been randomly chucked in as a potential location along with others Cloughie, but I've seen nothing suggesting it's a serious aim.

In fact, nothing I've seen convinces me that all of this is anything other than an embarrassingly clumsy attempt to put pressure on the city council. I am totally convinced however that a suitable compromise will eventually be reached over the City Ground.

It's 50:50 at best regards a compromise with the Whitehall appointed folks who now run the City Council. Leaving that aside, imagine that we get the OK to take the WFCG to 40K or thereabouts. Then imagine that the club is as successful as the owners want it to be. What then? They are thinking long term, they are thinking big, and to pinch a quote from Victor in the film Local Hero "you can't eat scenery". the history, the legends, the walk over Trent Bridge, I get all of that, and more. Business wise the WFCG is already well behind the curve (never mind facilities wise) and it will become increasingly further behind.

Derby, both Sheffield clubs, and Leicester have aspirations and big plans. Not all of them be realised. Villa's will though, and maybe a bit further along the line Birmingham too. We cannot afford to be left behind because we are giving weight to sentiment and behaving in the Forest tradition i.e. run it like it's a corner greengrocers. The Greeks know where the heart is, but they also know where the money is.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

I really dont understand the logic behind how close you live making it more or less acceptable to move.

You love the ground and location already, otherwise you wouldn't be a supporter, I mean its been there since 1898. The ground and location is one of the major things that makes us unique as a club. Lets be realistic here, were far more likely to be in the Championship in 10 years than holding events needing 50k people.

A white elephant in the middle of nowhere would absolutely kill the fabric and soul of the club and that about all we have to hang onto. Get the bastarding redevelopment done Forest.

I dont think anyone would be for a big bowl stadium in the middle of nowhere. I think that statement everyone including me is pretty much in agreement with that.

What if we couldnt expand the WFCG for whatever reason and we moved to the Weir Sports Field on the banks of the Trent still. Than a direct tram stop to town and get there in under 10 mins. Than we had Buses running every 2 mins from there. The stadium is built in a terrace fashion and make it as similar to the City Ground as possible. Same aesthetic and within that ground have a sports village but you are correct dont fill it with franchises. Why dont we bring the classics with us? Bring Eva's if they want to come, bring Bridgeford Fish and Chip Bar. Bring the newsagent that sells the programs as well . Than add some new things to it like a new pub ran by Broady and Crossley. Than have a new sports bar called Cloughs like they have Shearers in Newcastle. I know that will never ever replace the City Ground but wont that at least sound like it will be good?

You see thats why I am open minded I have pretty strong red lines and I agree 99% with you with nearly everything but if a proposal was made like the one above I could get on board with that.

 

[Wes' Organ]

And thats based on....

Accountancy.