When Steve Cooper walked through the City Ground doors on 21 September 2021, little did anyone know, expect, or dare to even dream the position the club would be in just twelve months later, let alone where it sits today.
In short of a previous Manager once walking on water, this was as big a miracle as any achieved at Nottingham Forest Football Club. Bottom of the Championship when he took over, we all know where it ended, the Welshman sadly leaving NG2 after being relieved of his position yesterday, still five points clear of the Premier League drop zone, despite things not going so well of late.
Football is a results-based business, and the results of Nottingham Forest in recent weeks have not been good enough. One win in thirteen is usually a sackable offence, and although Steve Cooper earned some overtime stripes to retrieve this sinking ship, it came as no surprise when it was officially announced.
Where it went wrong? Whether it would have improved? If it was the right time, or not? Is the successor the right man, or not? All questions asked for another day. I’m not one to delve into the articulations of opinion from players, fans, staff, writers or pundits, this isn’t about back-stabbing or biased siding, he said, she said, who’s the boss now? This is just about appreciation for what this likeable Referee’s son from Wrexham did for me, for you, for Forest and for the people of Nottingham, he gave us all a rekindled purpose, a togetherness, a meaning again through football and Forest, and a cause for celebration after one of the greatest days in the clubs recent history, he gave us belief that on our day, in our city, we can beat anyone in the world, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, huge scalps along the way, even drawing against arguably the greatest side on the planet in their treble winning season takes some doing.
The first season of ‘daring to dream’ under Cooper’s stewardship had us singing in the rain at Bristol and marching on to our best FA Cup finish since the mid-nineties, wins against Arsenal, Leicester, Huddersfield, a quarter final match where we ‘did our city proud’ against ‘eventual winners’ Liverpool, before picking ourselves up and getting in the groove for a memorable playoff push and that night in Nottingham which ended in penalty drama against Sheffield United before Huddersfield, Wembley, May 29, and the celebrations of a city coming together thereafter.
He made rogues loveable. Samba, Spence, Davis spring to mind, he got the best out of Yates, Worrall, Cook, McKenna, an arm around the shoulder type of boss, his players believed in him and he believed in them.
From early on in his tenure, Steve Cooper just ‘got’ Nottingham Forest. He understood our history, our passion, what drives the fans in these parts and rather than focussing on the future like others before him preferred to do, he embraced the past, and used it to make the City Ground a fortress.
That fortress was predominant in the success of last season, staying in the Premier League, and in a turbulent campaign with an ever-revolving door of transfer activity (good and bad), he again achieved mission impossible by just keeping Forest in the division, the side also reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup, something they hadn’t done since 1992.
From Lingard to Gibbs-White, Henderson to Navas, Toffolo to Lodi, Awoniyi to Origi, it’s all been a lot to take in on this Premier League rollercoaster, no real continuity since we’ve landed and even since the summer, this season may have not quite gone to plan. Whether that’s a Steve Cooper problem or not? Or an accumulation of too much turbulence off the pitch not helped by not knowing even now, Forest’s best XI? But regardless of who’s to blame and where the deeper lying issue is, there’s more admiration and love for a man who’s always kept his dignity high, throughout with pride and personality he’s punched beyond his weight and has been not just another manager of a football club, but an ambassador and statesman for this great city, and will be forever remembered for the achievements and memories he gave us.
Thank you Coops, you’ll always be one of us. A Nottingham Forest legend forever.
*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).
*Main image @NFFC Steve Cooper has given Forest fans proud everlasting memories
