[](https://yankeegooner.net/the-ups-downs-and-ups-of-nottingham-forest/)
Few football clubs embody contradiction like Nottingham Forest. From the lean, identity-less years of the 1960s to dizzying continental glories, financial struggles, and long-awaited rebirth, the club’s journey is a tapestry woven with tenacity—and glory.
The 1960s offered little to flatter the Forest legacy—mid-table obscurity, occasional flashes of promise, and a fan base longing for more. Then, in 1975, everything changed with the arrival of Brian Clough (and Peter Taylor). Within three seasons, Forest was champions of England (1978) and back-to-back European Cup winners (1979, 1980)—a sky-high peak for a club many thought destined merely to exist.
The years that followed were marked by decline, punctuated by fleeting highs under managers like Frank Clark and club legends like Stuart Pearce. Yet, the club struggled financially, bouncing between divisions throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
In 2022, the tide began to turn under Evangelos Marinakis’s ownership and Steve Cooper’s leadership, when Forest finally returned to the Premier League after a 23-year absence. Since then, they have rebuilt, seeking to reclaim a place among England’s respected clubs.
The 2024–25 season stands as perhaps the most remarkable chapter in Forest’s modern era. Guided by Nuno Espírito Santo, they transformed from a relegation-threatened side into genuine contenders. A stunning improvement from a 17th-place finish (32 points) the previous season to a 7th-place return (65 points), representing a staggering 33-point surge—the most of any club in Europe’s top five leagues.
Key moments defined this revival: six consecutive Premier League wins (their best streak since 1967); memorable victories at Anfield and Old Trafford; and a dominant 7–0 home thrashing of Brighton, highlighted by Chris Wood’s hat-trick.
Off the pitch, the club laid foundations for sustained progress. Nuno signed a new contract through 2028, underlining the leadership continuity. Forward-thinking improvements include renewing contracts for veteran centerback Willy Boly and planning upgrades to the historic City Ground. Forest is projected to enjoy a record-breaking revenue season also, bolstered by Premier League prize money and anticipated European match income.
On the European stage, Forest will return to continental competition for the first time in nearly 30 years, but in the Europa Conference League, not the Champions League, after narrowly missing out in the final game of the season.
Nottingham Forest’s rebirth since 2022 is not built on nostalgia, it’s rooted in smart leadership, solid recruitment, tactical clarity, and strategic investment. The 2024–25 season proved the club’s potential, from survival to Europe in a single campaign.
The manager and the owner currently at odds, this internal issue could have some affect on the pitch as well and ruin everything everyone at Forest has worked so hard to achieve.
Only time will tell for the lads of Forest.
Cheers.
Gunner1953