We take a deep dive into the history of Nottingham Forest FC fanzines and fan publications, from the 1980s to the present day...
Brian
Years active: 1988 - 1996
No. of issues: 50 (including specials)
The original Nottingham Forest FC fanzine, started by Julie Pritchard because no one else had done one yet. Named after Sir Brian Clough, who himself was photographed with copies on occasion. They interviewed the likes of Stuart Pearce, Des Walker and Frank Clark in their time. View the complete digital archive online now.
Tricky Tree
Years active: 1989 - 1997
No. of issues: 36
The most significant rival to Brian in its time. As well as the publications they also did a very fine line in t-shirts and were largely responsible for popularising, if not coining the club nickname ‘Tricky Trees’. Ran by Andy Lowe and Neil Shaw, published from an address in West Bridgford.
Trent Times
Years active: 1990 - 1992
No. of issues: 11
The third proper Forest fanzine to make it to print. Issue one came out in November 1990, while the final one hit the streets around two years later. The content was a mix of desktop and cut and paste publishing. It averaged 28 printed pages and was edited by Sheldon Miller from an address in Wollaton.
Forest Forever
Years active: 1992 - 1998
No. of issues: 41
Very much a family concern in its early days as its prodigious founder Rich Fisher was just twelve years-old when it began and his brother Alan did the cartoons, all from their base in Mapperley. Rich subsequently published a book called The Church of Stuart Pearce and Other Stories which includes much detail on his fanzine journey.
The Garibaldi
Years active: 1992 - 1993
No. of issues: 4
Running for four issues covering the end of 1991/2 and beginning of 1992/3 seasons, this was largely a mix of detailed first and reserve team match reports and irreverent ‘out there’ humour, most of it at Derby’s expense. Varied between 40-52 printed pages. Edited by Martin Hyman-Taylor from an address given as a PO Box.
The Red Review
Years active: 1995
No. of issues: 4
We have very little information about this one, other than our source finding issue four in his loft. It was dated as 1995, ran at four photocopied pages and was published from an address in Hucknall. It had the coverline ‘The World’s First and Only Free Fanzine’, which we’re not able to verify, but might be a reason they didn’t last.
Everywhere We Go
Years active: ? - 1999
No. of issues: At least 5
Another one we know little about, other than stumbling across issues three and five. Edited by Ed Shirbon with an editorial address in Stamford. A quick google suggests Ed also wrote a fans column for the Evening Post and may have gone on to a career in sports data.
Run Forest Run
Years active: 2001
No. of issues: 1
The editorial, signed off by Phil Dickens, states it’s a one-off. Published in August 2001 with 52 printed pages and a print run of just 250 copies. It included an interview with former Forest striker Robert Rosario, who by that time had moved to the US to play soccer and had settled with his family in Northern Carolina.
Blooming Forest
Years active: 2001 - 2009
No. of issues: 79
Edited by Jonathan Heath and running throughout the noughties, we believe it’s the longest-running Forest zine of all in terms of issues published. Their first contained an interview with notorious German Forest supporter Ebby who spent decades and thousands of pounds travelling across Europe for games.
Lost That Loving Feeling
Years active: 2005 - 2006
No. of issues: 5
LTLF was unusual in that it was a well-established website which entered the world of print. The website remains online as the most popular Forest fans forum at forestforum.co.uk. The fanzine was edited by Alex Walker, from an editorial address in Radcliffe-on-Trent. The Fisher brothers were also involved too.
Bandy and Shinty
Years active: 2016-2019
No. of issues: 12
A high-end print publication put together by an established group of Forest writers and bloggers which included Phil Juggins, Sean Hockett, Steve Wright, David Marples, Paul Severn and Julie Pritchard of The Brian. They stopped printing in 2019, but their archives are available online at bandyandshinty.wordpress.com
Trevor Francis Tracksuits
Years active: 2020 - present
No. of issues: 10 and counting
Launched by Dave Marples (formerly of Bandy and Shinty) who also does a splendid job of recreating Forest goal highlights using Subbuteo and stop motion animation. Issues are available from MSR Newsagents on Radcliffe Road and profits are donated to local charities. They also have a website at trevorfrancistrack.wixsite.com
Oh Mist Rolling In
Years active: 2022 - present
No. of issues: 12 and counting
The new kid on the block, run by Duane, Ned, Chris P, Darren I and Ashley B. Based out of Mapperley, it’s £3 an issue for sixty pages with no ads. On sale at MSR Newsagents on Radcliffe Road and from the programme seller outside the Waterside pub on matchdays. Find them on Twitter at @ohmistrolling.
Honourable mentions to these other Forest (or at least anti-Derby) fanzines we have been told about, but have very little info on: The Sheep (1990), Ram Busters, Psycho, 400 Yards, Game of Two Halves and the Norwegian produced Skogvokteren. If we've missed any others you know of then drop us an email to fanzines(AT)leftlion.co.uk
Our thanks to Andy Lowe and Rich Fisher for their help with this article.
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