Memories

Not a fantastic weekend results wise, Forest lost for the first time in living memory with other teams around us suddenly deciding that now was the right time to restart their own Championship push. Bugger.

So instead of dwelling on this weekend, and because of the game yesterday where Marlon 'obviously not as good as King' Harewood scored the winning goal to put West Ham into the FA Cup final (and Europe), let's dwell on a game from 15 years ago …..

April 14 1991, Forest v West Ham, FA Cup semi final at Villa Park.

As a fresh faced, young free & single 22 year old, an FA Cup semi final at a sunny Villa Park would mean copious amounts of alcohol, a good result and a happy day out all round. As it transpired I was still recovering from a wisdom teeth operation not four days earlier, so alcohol was off the menu and my face looked like it had gone a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson, who could still box back then.

Early in the first half, Gary Crosby goes though on goal, but is blown over by Tony Gale huffing & puffing to get back in position. I've since heard the referee sent him off for foul & abusive language, which would be the only possible explanation as the word 'harsh' doesn't exactly cover it. From then on it was one way traffic, Forest waiting until the second half to wrap up the convincing 4:0 win.

While the game is well documented here, as with most games, the memories are of the extra-curricular activities of being a football fan:

• A Police dog demonstration before the game, two policemen, two dogs. The blokes are wearing protective padding round one arm and carrying a black bag in the other. One policemen goes one way, the other in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, both dogs go after the same man, one leaps at the padded arm while the other takes the arm that's left. Ouch.



• A West Ham fan, clearly irate at the red card decision against his team, leaps over the advertising hoardings and runs straight for the referee. Stewards & police follow, but too far behind. What will he do ? Has he got a knife ? Will he just lamp him ? The lad gets to the referee, but then seems to realise where he is and stops. He then gently taps the referee on the shoulder and gives him a piece of his mind, which by then couldn't have been much. The abuse the poor lad got as he was hauled away must have made him think that if he was going to get caught, it may as well have been for something significant.



• West Ham fans not shutting up for the last half hour of a game they were never going to win.



• Following the game, and the search is on for the coach we came in, which had helpfully moved from the car-park it dropped us off at. By the time we find it, the only people outside the ground are the sort of lads who would have arranged to meet up before-hand for a friendly discussion on whose supporters were better at having friendly discussions. My mate Kev & I stood with our backs to a warehouse wall as a group of Forest fans chased after a group of West Ham fans, only to return 10 seconds later being chased themselves by West Ham fans led by a bloke dressed from head-to-toe as a monk. Priceless.