FOREST AWAY: Chelsea, Sunday 6th October – Fan Guide

As we venture ever further into this rather splendid purple patch of away form, I’ve been thinking about what has been my greatest ever away day. Especially after that incredible day at Anfield a few weeks back. I just missed out on some of the great trips of the nineties, but among hundreds of abysmal, depressing excursions around the country there has been some sublime days, even when the result wasn’t in our favour.

Since the start of the 1999/2000 season Forest have played 623 away games in all competitions. They have won 169 of them, a win percentage of 27.13%.

For some context, our highest percentage in this 25-year period was in 2021/22 when we won ten away games and recorded 43.48%. A season later, in our first year back in the Premier League, we only managed 13.04% (aided by League Cup victories at Grimsby and Blackburn). Interestingly, the second highest percentage was 37.50% in David Platt’s second season in charge. Last campaign was 23.81% and after three games this season its at 66.67%.

So this recent run of form is really something to cherish, whether it ends this weekend or at some point down the line.

In chronological order only I’m thinking this is a good spread of my ten personal favourites in that time:

GRIMSBY, September 2000 – There won’t be many away games from this era that stand out for many, but an otherwise routine win at Blundell Park was transformed by the non-stop ‘Singin’ the Blues’ all the way through the second half. There was even a conga that I briefly joined as it snaked down into the concourse and then back out and down across the front.

COVENTRY, August 2001 – The only one in this list that didn’t end in a Forest win. Down to nine men after the dismissals of Stern John and Mathieu Louis-Jean, this was the Reds just hanging on defiantly to snatch a goalless draw. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t a vital point or change anything during a mediocre season, but it was a superb feeling as the away end sang their team over the line.

IPSWICH, April 2003 – Two nil down early in the game, the Reds fought back to 3-2 and then overcame an Ipswich equaliser to win 4-3. The scenes as the goals went in still rank among the very best. As a I recall, this result all but confirmed our play-off spot.

HARTLEPOOL, April 2008 – I know I’m not alone for having fond memories of our League One away days, even if they were largely dark times for the club. A week or so before, there has been the first glimmer of a chance of automatic promotion and the teams around us began to stumble. We went on the train that changed at umpteen different places and somehow got us into Hartlepool ridiculously early. Very late in the game, Lewis McGugan struck in front of the away end to send us wild. This game is also memorable for an epic journey home with a crate full of cans – we didn’t know it at the time but it was the end of our League One away day odyssey. I hope they never return, but I’ll always remember some great times.

MAN CITY, January 2009 – It’s hard to really describe what time game was; City were not the behemoth they are today but they were on the way and a first Premier League title wasn’t far away for them. We absolutely tonked them and if I have one abiding memory from that day, it was the concourse at half-time that was absolutely bouncing as we celebrated a 2-0 lead. We had made it three by the end.

LEEDS, March 2012 – This was a horrible period for the club but to go to Elland Road and win 7-3 was absolutely barmy. As a sign of how much apathy was around at the time, the away end that night was mostly empty. I can only imagine many rued the decision not to travel and witness one of the most bewildering results in our history.

DERBY, January 2015 – Obviously. I remember I used to fantasise about this sort of scenario, a last-minute winner at their ground. The response from the away corner wasn’t just crazy, it was almost violent energy. The walk back to the station was absolutely delightful.

MILLWALL, January 2022 – There could have been an absolute load from this season (notable mention to Bristol City), but I think this day, precisely at the moment Lewis Grabban won the game in the final seconds, I think we might have all started to believe we were onto something. I believe a record may have been set this afternoon for the amount of people who ended up on the floor celebrating a goal. The entire away seemed to collapse in delirium.

CRYSTAL PALACE, May 2023 – Okay, I admit this is my favourite and it will take something monumental to shift it. It was just one day long party and I will never ever forget it. When I’m old and want to remember happy memories from life, I will return to videos of this day and remember how unbelievably joyful this was.

LIVERPOOL, September 2024 – This wasn’t just a huge win, it was a defining moment for almost everyone who had never seen us win at Anfield. I think this away day was something rather different to the others as it felt like actually we were capable of becoming a very good team. When Matz Sels launched the goal-kick up the field and the referee blew his whistle it was such a sight across the away section.

Do feel free to shout up with your own from the last 25 years or so.

Hopefully there will be some more strong contenders to emerge throughout the season.

***

AWAY GAME 4: CHELSEA, Sunday 6^th October

Last Visit: A superb 1-0 win in September 2023

There is American Football taking place at Tottenham on Sunday. While it’s across the other side of London, it may make it busier getting around the city.

It always seems to take an age to get into the away end at the turnstiles if arriving after 1:30pm. Would be worth trying to get there a little earlier if you can.

TRAVEL

RAIL: While there are some direct trains running, many services on Sunday morning from Nottingham include a change. There is even the odd bus replacement service in operation so plan ahead to avoid any hassle.

The best standard price I can see is around £66 on Trainline, but always remember the little checks to see if its comes up cheaper to go via Grantham / Peterborough and the saving a Two Together Railcard can bring. For a fare like this, you’ll make your money back in one trip and then have the benefits of it for a further year.

There are a couple of underground or rail stops that serve Stamford Bridge. Earls Court (covered in the next section as the main destination for away pubs) will be the most popular, but the closer stations are Fulham Broadway (District Underground) and West Brompton (Overground). After the game, I’d suggest the slightly longer walk back to Earls Court if heading back into London or up to St Pancras; it will be a little less crowded.

ROAD: A few potential parking options below which is certainly not exhaustive:

Stanmore: Just off Jc4 of the M1 and usually a good and reliable option. Note that close to Stanmore is Canon Park which is the next stop down on the line but it only has a very small car park.

Edgware: Another stop I’ve used a few times. Close to Stanmore and at the very top of the Northern Line.

Watford: Jct 6 of M1. A long way out of London, but probably a reliable means of leaving your car and having a relatively hassle-free journey in and out.

Cockfosters: Jct 5 or 4 – not used this one before but apparently it has a large car park and is at the very top of the Piccadilly line which serves Earls Court direct which is close to Stamford Bridge.

M25 West options: If you are okay with heading around the M25 westbound, stations like Richmond, South Ealing, Wimbledon may offer options a little closer to the stadium.

Luton Airport Parkway: Situated just off Jct 10 of the M1 this option cuts down a fair bit of travelling in the car, but this is a rail service so please be mindful that it will be subject to the disruption covered above. Note that this option can work out a bit more expensive as a return is around £12, plus a London underground / overground cost, but be aware that if travelling in groups of 3 or 4 you can get a third off the £12 return.

 

PUBS

Chelsea isn’t particularly away fan friendly; lots of pubs have a strict policy on admitting home supporters only and this stretches a fair way beyond the stadium and through surrounding areas like Earls Court.

The main away pubs are close to Earls Court station – the Prince of Tek and the Earls Court Tavern will usually operate as welcoming venue for away fans, and this should include the Courtfield Tavern too. With the lack of other options in the immediate area, they have all got very busy in the last couple of visits.

These are all around 15/20 minutes’ walk to Stamford Bridge.

For those looking for something a little bit less hectic it may be worth heading slightly further afield, potentially picking something up on the tube / rail line in. See our Q&A below for more guidance from our Chelsea fan. One option that I know a few Forest fans tried last season was to head past the ground to Putney Bridge which is the tube stop closest to Fulham F.C. There are plenty of really good pubs around here, both close to the station and over the bridge into Putney. Fulham are away at Man City so no risk of it being overly crowded either.

 

Q&A with Chelsea fan, Steven

It’s been a tremendous start to the season for Chelsea, somewhat silencing some of the negative noise that had been generated around the club. Has it been better than you were anticipating?

To be honest, after the pre-season we had and the sacking of Pochettino last season, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  With the run we had at the end of last season, I think the majority of Chelsea supporters would have liked to have seen Poch get a stab at a second season to see if the squad kicked on from that run.   However, we are not to know what goes on behind closed doors.

I don’t think many Chelsea supporters knew what to expect from Maresca but safe to say that the positive start we have had, the way we’re playing and the positive vibes coming out of the club about him and his training methods, I’m looking forward to seeing where he takes this team. I’m really pleased with the start of the season.

Cole Palmer has been magnificent – how fearful should Forest be of him on Sunday?

The guy is just so calm and collected.  He has the world at his feet.  His vision, positioning and his football brain is just top class.  He drifts in and out of different positions and with the rotation of the forward line during the game, makes him even more dangerous.  If he is man marked, it then allows others to come into the game, freeing them up.

His stats have been amazing since he joined us so definitely one to fear!

 

Rumbling in the background over the last few years has been the talk of whether Stamford Bridge might be redeveloped or a new stadium built. What’s the latest on this?

This is a tough one.  When the owners took over, part of the deal was to redevelop the existing site or build a new one.  We had planning permission at the time I believe but that has now expired.

My preference would be to redevelop the existing site but that’s just me being sentimental.  We recently acquired the land adjacent to Stamford Bridge behind the West Stand but no plans have yet been published. There were rumours about using land in the Earls Court area but it’s gone a bit silent to be honest.

In the Forest squad on Sunday will be Callum Hudson-Odoi for what I think will be his first return to Stamford Bridge. He spoke recently about his hope for a good reception from the home supporters. What reaction can he expect?

He will get a great reception.  Anyone who doesn’t give him a good reception isn’t a true supporter. He’s one of our own and I have no bad words to say about him.

He did well for us up until that serious injury and I’m personally pleased to see him back on track and doing so well.  Just as long as that doesn’t continue this Sunday!

 

On our last couple of visits, we’ve found it difficult to find many places to accept away fans beyond a couple of away pubs that were already packed. Do you have any suggestions, perhaps something further afield?

My suggestion would be the London Victoria area that has plenty of pubs and you can get the District line tube direct to Fulham Broadway (get the Wimbledon tube) which can take around 30 minutes. The Shakespeare is located outside the mainline exit just by the bus stops on the left which is a nice pub but there are plenty in the area.

I know pubs in the vicinity of the ground are either home supporters only or they can get packed. However, The Duke on the Green and The White Horse in Parsons Green welcomes away fans and they have outdoor areas if it’s a nice day and the ground is a 10–15-minute walk from there.

Finally – can we have your predictions, please?

Scoreline on Sunday?

3-1 to Chelsea

Where will Chelsea finish?

5th

Where will Forest finish?

13th

 

Thanks to Steven for his insight.

See all of you travelling at the Bridge.

You Reds.

Matt