All things Nottingham

The aborted bike ride this morning with La La on account of neither of us showing much commitment in the rain and head wind, has made me decide to start my 'all things Nottingham' series today.

So I present to you the city ground - home of Nottingham Forest. Not to be confused with Nottingham Forest - Houston, Texas, although this is a fitting beginning as I have found the inspiration to do this series from blipper - 'an itching in my thumbs' who hails from Texas.

Anyway a few facts for the uninitiated (for more I can give my good friend Graeme a ring to bore you all senseless!)

The club was founded in 1865 and thus became a founder member of the Football Alliance in 1889.

Their most successful period came under the management of Brian Clough, between 1975 and 1993, during which time they won the English First Division, two consecutive European Cups and four League Cups.

They played in the first season of the newly formed Premier League in 1992 and have subsequently suffered a number of promotions and relegations between the top three divisions of English football.

Forest have been based at the City Ground since 1898 and its current capacity is 30,602.

The club is often referred to simply as Forest the name the club carries on their crest.

Forest fans have a deep dislike of their club being referred to as Notts Forest. This is because Notts is the abbreviation of Nottinghamshire, hence Notts County, and not of Nottingham itself. The team are also called the Reds, due to the colour of their strip.