The City Ground is a true example of one of the few remaining historical football stadiums left in the Premier League, creating a unique atmosphere on matchday.
Nuno Espirito Santo hailed the Forest fans against Tottenham for the brilliant noise they made in the Boxing Day win, a recurring theme this season, especially with the City Ground support witnessing a remarkable European football push.
The atmosphere could be set to improve even more as redevelopment plans for the City Ground are set for 2026, which will hopefully coincide with some memorable European nights on the Trent.
A 50,000 capacity has been touted for the City Ground, which would be an increase of nearly 20,000, a significant boost both financially for Evangelos Marinakis, but also in atmosphere to further establish Forest’s home as an intimidating stadium for opposition players.
To get the crowd immediately behind the Forest squad before kickoff, the City Ground faithful sing an adopted version of Mull of Kintyre by Wings for reasons that date back to the legendary period of Brian Clough.
Why Nottingham Forest fans sing Mull of Kintyre
The most memorable period in Forest history is the back-to-back European Cups under Clough in the late 1970s, but the fans’ obsession with Mull of Kintyre predates this ever so slightly.
Written by Paul McCartney, Mull of Kintyre was released in November 1977, amidst an incredible story emerging from the City Ground as the newly promoted Forest were charging towards a First Division title.
Forest legend Clough secured the title and, with it, became the most recent team to win the top division title in the first season after being promoted.
Coinciding with the popularity of the song, the Nottingham Post reported that Forest fans adopted the tune for the terraces, and it has simply stuck to this day.
The report said: “Reds supporters changed the lyrics as the mist often rolled in from the Trent, and included a range of words about their travels up and down the country. Having been released that season, it became the Forest chorus and has stuck ever since.”
Being on the bank of the River Trent, too, the lyric ‘Oh mist rolling in from the sea’ has been truthfully adapted to ‘Oh mist rolling in from the Trent.’
However, the chant wasn’t always an anthem, with a crucial game in 2008 seeing Mull of Kintyre become the staple pre-match tradition it is today.
Nottingham Forest’s League One promotion birthed the Mull of Kintyre Anthem
The report continued, adding: “Forest first decided to pump the song out at the City Ground prior to the clash against Yeovil Town in 2008 when the Reds secured promotion back to the Championship.”
Goals from Julian Bennett, Kris Commons and Lewis McGugan secured a 3-2 win at the City Ground to lift Forest into the Championship after a three-year absence.
All three have kept tabs on the club, with McGugan praising Elliot Anderson this season as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looks to push for a previously unthinkable Champions League finish.
The three already have their place secured in Forest history for the goals that got the club out of a potential rut in League One, but being on the pitch when Mull of Kintyre was first blasted through the speakers is history in itself.
Marinakis has been inspired by Stadium 974 in Qatar, which was famously made from shipping containers. It seems unlikely that the expanded City Ground will bear a resemblance to this, but regardless of any radical design, Mull of Kintyre will continue to serenade the squad just as it did in 1977 and 2008.
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