Stadium

History of the stadium

Welcome to the home stadium of Nottingham Forest, the City Ground. The Reds have called the stadium their base since September 1898 after moving to their seventh stadia. But it has stayed as their sole home ever since, making it one of the oldest football grounds in England.

Nottingham Forest originally used fields at the Forest Recreation Ground as their stadium for their first 14 years in existence. But the Reds moved to the Castle Ground in 1879 so that the Reds could start charging admission and start hosting their own home games in the FA Cup.

Notts Castle had called the Castle Ground their stadium but they dissolved to clear a path for Nottingham Forest to move in. Yet a steep rise in attendances forced the Reds to move into a larger home. Ultimately, they settled on Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club’s Trent Bridge.

Nottingham Forest found a home at the City Ground

But Nottingham Forest’s spell only at Trent Bridge also proved short-lived after Notts County replaced them as its tenants in 1882. The Reds had little time to find a new home, so settled on the Parkside Ground. Yet the uneven pitch and its location in Lenton were far from idyllic.

So, the club were on the move again in 1885 as they took residence at Gregory Ground. But its location in Lenton continued to see Nottingham Forest’s attendances dwindle. So, a deal was reached in 1890 to move into their first proper stadium, the Town Ground, in The Meadows.

Yet Nottingham Forest would soon have to move stadium again as the newly-formed council sought to redevelop the site. But it offered the Reds the land on the south side of the River Trent. Work then started and finished in 1898 to erect the first iteration of the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest rejected a chance to buy the City Ground

Nottingham Forest named their new stadium the City Ground having briefly called the Town Ground as such after Nottingham received city status. While its pitch was among the best in the country at the time. The ground also featured a wooden-slatted main stand on the west.

The City Ground would be a huge hit as Nottingham Forest finally found their home stadium. Yet the club rejected their chance to buy the ground from Nottingham Corporation for £7k in 1935. While a £40k project in 1957 saw the Reds erect a 2,500-seated stand on the east side.

Further changes in 1965 saw Nottingham Forest largely rebuild the Main Stand. But a fire in 1968 destroyed the wooden stand with much of Nottingham Forest’s trophy cabinet, club records and memorabilia. The Reds would play at Meadow Lane whilst rebuilding the stand.

Nottingham Forest have often redeveloped the City Ground

One of the most successful periods in Nottingham Forest’s club history would soon follow as Brian Clough oversaw top-flight and European titles. And with it, the Reds also had the funds to build a 10,000-capacity stand featuring 36 executive boxes named after their iconic coach.

Nottingham Forest built on the creation of the Brian Clough Stand in 1980 by redeveloping the Bridgford Stand in 1992. The work increased its capacity to 7,710 with a 5,131 capacity lower tier. While its roof was also specifically designed to allow light to reach the nearby houses.

Such was the status that the City Ground now had that the Football Association chose it as a venue for Euro 1996. With that in mind, Nottingham Forest rebuilt the Trent End to increase its capacity to 7,500 and the overall capacity of the City Ground to its current limit of 30,445.

Further changes are on the table today, though, as Rushcliffe Borough Council gave the Reds planning permission to redevelop the ground in 2022. Nottingham Forest put forward plans to take its capacity up to 35,000 in 2019. But the work’s expected cost was over £94m in 2022.

Their project would see Nottingham Forest demolish the Peter Taylor Stand and build a new structure with 5,000 additional seats. It currently holds 5,000 spectators. But the Reds must find an agreement with Nottingham Rowing Club over the demolition of nearby boathouses.

How to get to the City Ground

Fans can get to the City Ground through a raft of means owing to the location of Nottingham Forest’s stadium. Trains from Birmingham, Derby, Leicester, London and Sheffield arrive into Nottingham railway station regularly. The station is around a 20-minute walk to the ground.

Buses also run from Nottingham railway station to the City Ground offering a 10-minute trip. While further buses service the stadium from across Nottingham, with routes 5-11 offering the closest drop-off points. While fans driving to the ground should use NG2 5FJ with a Sat Nav.

Stadium tour info

Nottingham Forest offer 90-minute tours of the City Ground throughout the year. The Reds’ two-time European Cup-winning captain, John McGovern, also leads them. While each tour has access to the dressing rooms, the players’ tunnel, the boardroom and the directors’ box.

Visitors wishing to attend a tour of Nottingham Forest’s stadium at the City Ground can book by phone on 0115 982 4388 or in person at the club’s ticket office. While each tour can host up to 25 people. But all under-18s wishing to attend a tour must be accompanied by an adult.

Address

City Ground: The City Ground, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5FJ