Imagine a fan of, say, Stoke City, sitting us Forest fans down and earnestly addressing us: ‘I've been trying to figure something in my head, and maybe you can help me out, yeah? When a person supports a team as good as this, as you clearly do, do you know how good they are? Maybe when you're just sitting around, reading opposition fans getting wound up about Ryan Yates and endlessly replaying clips of passes by Morgan Gibbs-White, do you just stop and go, "Wow! It is amazing how magical my team really is?!” Yeah. Do you guys do that?’
To paraphrase Detective David Mills in the film Seven when he addresses John Doe, a clearly psychotic murderer, in a futile effort to understand the inner workings of another mind, how conscious are we that the ride we are currently on is something special? Obviously we know these are the good times, but are we hyper conscious that this season is very probably the season of our lives? To what degree is it possible to process something this good while simultaneously absorbing every last drop of joy from it?
You may remember being very small and occasionally moaning about school, to which older, taller, grown-up people would wag a finger and mysteriously inform you that these are the best days of your life. You just stood there, mouth agape. What kind of madness is this?
It made no sense at the time. Such a revelation may well have sent your tiny and undeveloped mind into a spasm of incomprehension. Is this is the case, this thing called life seems like a pretty miserable existence. What’s the point in growing up if I can’t do what I want, when I want? All these older, taller, grown-up people do is wish they were young again — what kind of idiots are they?
Of course, they had a point. Eventually you understand that not being able to continue your kick about in the park or the school yard is not actually the world’s greatest injustice ever inflicted on an innocent individual. The revelation, although somewhat tragic, is true.
Do we know how amazing these times are? Can we really, truly comprehend this while we drink in every single last clip of goal celebrations or Ola Aina drinking Ribena?
To respond to the hypothetical Stoke fan’s existential query, yes. Absolutely, irrefutably and totally. And maybe being hyper conscious of it is what makes this magic carpet ride so special.
Take your pick from the moments against Brighton and savour each one like a sommelier judging a wine competition. Nico Dominguez’s endless running and harrying. Elliot Anderson’s tenacity and skill. Ola Aina’s crazy, wavy run from right back into the penalty area. Matz Sels simply standing there and nonchalantly punching a spot kick away, as if it were an irritating fly buzzing around. Ryan Yates Marco Tardelli-ing towards the away end after converting the decisive penalty. The seemingly everlasting rendition of Que Sera, Sera while the Forest staff stared back in amazement.
So in response to the hypothetical Stoke fan, yes. We are indeed stuck in an endless loop of stopping and going ‘Wow! It is amazing how magical my team really is.’
Just please don’t stop us. Thanks.
One of my books, ‘The History Boys: Thirty Iconic Forest Goals’, has been reprinted in paperback, with a lovely review quote on the front cover. Click here if you fancy buying a copy.
I have almost completed the 92. Here are some observations from visiting lots of football grounds over the years.
If you don’t know me, I am the author of ‘Reds and Rams: The History of the East Midlands Derby’ and ‘The History Boys: Thirty Iconic Forest Goals’ (both available in the Forest club shop). I have written pieces for Mundial magazine, Football Weekends magazine, edited two award-nominated fanzines and was a columnist in the Nottingham Forest programme for eight years.
If you do know me, I’m truly sorry.
Share this post