UK Stadiums: City Ground, Nottingham Forest, Nottingham, England
The City Ground in Nottingham is the historic home of Nottingham Forest Football Club, located on the banks of the River Trent. Opened in 1898, the stadium has a current capacity of around 30,445. Located just 300 yards (270 meters) from Meadow Lane, home of rivals Notts County, the two stadiums are separated by the River Trent. This makes them the closest football grounds in England and the second-closest in the UK, after Dens Park and Tannadice Park in Dundee, Scotland.
Capacity
The current capacity of the City Ground is 30,445.
Stands
The ground has four main stands: the Trent End, known for housing some of the most passionate supporters; the Brian Clough Stand, named after the club's legendary manager; the Bridgford Stand (to be renamed the John Robertson Stand after the Scottish wideman), which often hosts away fans; and the Peter Taylor Stand, named after Clough's long-time assistant.
Club History
Nottingham Forest Football Club, founded in 1865, is one of the oldest football clubs in the world and boasts a rich history. The club rose to international prominence under the legendary management of Brian Clough, who, alongside his assistant Peter Taylor, led Forest to unprecedented success in the late 1970s.
After winning promotion to the First Division in 1977, Forest stunned the footballing world by winning the league title in 1978 and going on to claim back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980. Known for their iconic red kits and deep-rooted connection to their local community, Forest has experienced fluctuating fortunes over the decades, including spells outside the top flight. However, they remain a proud and historic club in English football, with a loyal fanbase and a legacy of both domestic and European glory.
The club's nicknames include Forest, The Garibaldis, The Reds, and The Tricky Trees.
Club Icons
From the 1970s through the 1990s, Nottingham Forest's players helped shape one of the most remarkable stories in English football. Under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor in the late 1970s, Forest rose from the Second Division to become champions of England in 1978 and back-to-back European Cup winners in 1979 and 1980, thanks to iconic figures such as John Robertson, Trevor Francis (the first ever £1m player in British football history), Viv Anderson (England's first full international black player), Tony Woodcock, Martin O'Neill, Archie Gemmill, goalkeeper Peter Shilton, Garry Birtles, Larry Lloyd and captain John McGovern.
The 1980s brought a transition but still featured strong sides built around talents like Stuart Pearce, Des Walker, Neil Webb and Nigel Clough, who carried the club's competitive spirit into a new era. By the 1990s, players such as Roy Keane, Stan Collymore, and Steve Stone emerged as stars, helping Forest achieve promotion and European qualification once again. Across these three decades, Forest's squads were defined by teamwork, determination, and a fearless belief that allowed them to compete with - and often defeat - the best in Europe.
Managers
Besides the legendary Clough and Taylor combo, other managers at Forest since those heady days have included Frank Clark, Stuart Pearce, Dave Bassett, Ron Atkinson, David Platt, Paul Hart, Joe Kinnear, Gary Megson, Colin Calderwood, Spaniard Aitor Karanka, Martin O'Neill, Chris Hughton, Steve Cooper and more recently in the Marinakis era Portuguese Espírito Santo, very briefly Australian Ange Postecoglu and presently Sean Dyce.
Access - Getting There
The nearest railway station to the ground is Nottingham Station just 15 minutes or so on foot to the north. Nottingham Station has trains to Manchester Piccadilly, London St Pancras, Leicester, and Liverpool Lime Street. There are also trains from Nottingham to Matlock via Derby, Birmingham New Street and Norwich via Grantham, Peterborough and Ely. Northern also operates trains to Leeds via Sheffield.
Several buses also stop near the ground.
Address: Pavilion Road, Nottingham, NG2 5FJ
Accessibility
Accessible entrances are located in each stand, and there is an additional accessible entrance at the Bridgford Stand, near turnstiles 57-59. The City Ground holds up to 75 wheelchair-designated positions throughout the stadium bowl. A fixed chair position is located behind each Wheelchair User Space for the supporter's companion/PA to sit.
Nearby Hotels
Near Nottingham city center and Nottingham Station are several upmarket places to stay. These include the Leonardo Hotel Nottingham, the Bentinck Hotel and the Lace Market Hotel.
See here for a complete listing of hotels in Nottingham.
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