33) Watch A Nottingham Forest Match From An Executive Box

Well, it's been a while hasn't it? Unfortunately settling in to a new job has left me little recreation time, but it's not all bad, especially when I get to complete another task!

I've supported Nottingham Forest football club since I was three years old and from the ages of about 18-24 pretty much lived my life down at the City Ground, watching my team week in week out. Then I guess life took over, my friends stopped going, I went out more, discovered boys and drinking, as you do, but I still supported them from afar.

I think in all my times of going down to watch them, I must have sat in every stand at some point, but the pinnacle to me was always a seat in an Executive box. I can't explain why I wanted to watch from there, but it just seemed so luxurious compared to the rough and tumble of the stands and there was also that aspect of it being so unobtainable, after all, it cost a small fortune to hire one out.

I haven't been to a match at Nottingham Forest for well over ten years due to the fact that football doesn't feature so heavily in my life any more, plus my husband cannot stand the game, so I sort of got out of the habit of not watching it even when it was on TV. But occasionally some thing happened that meant I drove over Trent Bridge and I would look at the ground and it would just bring back a flood of memories of the times I spent there. Then I got this new job, working for a non profit organisation and I had to liaise with the football clubs in Nottingham and suddenly I was back at the ground, reliving the memories and well I may have mentioned to my contact if there was any possibility of getting a seat in an Exec box. They did one better! I got a call on Friday to say that we had a whole box to our selves to do with what we wished. So I rang around and managed to sell some tickets with all proceeds going to the charity. So on Tuesday against Burnley, which is not possibly the most glamorous match in the world, we drove to the ground and we being my husband and me - yes I got him to his first ever Forest match!

We were greeted on arrival and given tickets to the box and a free match day programme, purchased a drink and then went to our box. It was a lot smaller than what I'd anticipated - it seats 8 but I think you would be struggling to get 8 big blokes in there. Incredibly nice though to just sit and chill and watch the stadium fill up in front of you and not having to wear layer upon layer of clothing to stay warm on a cold Nottingham evening. What was even better was the fact that there was a TV in the room and once the match started it switched to the Nottingham Forest match also on the screen so you got a commentary as you watched the match. It also gave me chance to people watch big time, as you could see into each box (I would presume so you haven't got restricted view of the pitch). There is obviously still quite a lot of money around Nottingham as the woman in the box next to me had a multitude of designer accessories including a sort after Chanel hand bag!

It was a pretty dire first half I have to admit but second half saw it liven up with two goals by Forest to seal the victory. It was almost like old times seeing them win again - I half expected Psycho to come running down the left flank, but it was not to be...

So my first ever Executive box match at Forest was a success. I certainly don't think it was any less of any atmosphere being in the box than sitting outside in the stands and it's certainly something that I wouldn't mind doing again. Plus all ticket monies sold went straight to the charity I work for - even better!

Facing My Demons

I used to be a really, really, big football fan. In fact there was a period in my life, when I ate, slept and breathed the beautiful game and nothing else in life existed. So, it came as no surprise really, that my first book was based on that period in my life and that reminiscing brought back so many memories. No more so, than the 1991 FA Cup Final. This period was at the pinnacle of my adoration, but also signified the decline in my love for the game.

I can remember the build up like it was yesterday. The fact that we have to play nearly every match twice to reach the Final. The fact that Stuart Pearce scored for us, with a fantastic free kick, that I saw from the other side of the pitch, where I was standing on my seat for a better view. I remember crying from the second half onwards, knowing that we were slowing being pushed out of the game and then when the final whistle blew, I cried some more, knowing that we would never get the chance to get there again.

Although it was a couple of seasons after that, that I stopped going to matches, I never felt the same after that match, so watching the dvd on Friday, brought back a whole host of memories, including remember the sort of person I was, eighteen years ago. It also gave me chance to check the accuracy of the chapters I'd written.

I wasn't looking forward to watching the match, fearful that it would evoke all those emotions that I'd kept hidden for such a long time. I'm glad I did though. Perhaps the Forest team of today, could do with watching it, may just give them tips on how to play the beautiful game as it should be played. I, in the meantime, I'm off to add some more detail to my chapters and reminisce somewhere.

You Reds

Since the age of three, I've supported Nottingham Forest football club and during the late eighties and early nineties, I lived, ate and breathed them.

Although I haven't been to watch Forest for around six years, I have very fond memories of my time of visiting the City Ground and for some reason, no matter how hard I try, football always seems to follow me where ever I am.

Take today for instance. Smiffy, one of the girls at work, was saying that her husband was quite interested in getting a box at Forest. My ears pricked up. Although I'm not too bothered about going back to watching Forest on a regular basis, I have always, always, wanted to watch a match from one of the Executive boxes. Although the boxes don't come cheap (around £1200) they do seat 8 people, which when you share the cost is only about £150 each. At which point, somebody nearby in the office piped up that he wouldn't mind going as well. I think we have a plan. (I do so love it when I get close to completing another task!)

Today's funniest moment has to be the fact that mid afternoon, some of the people affected by the recent redundancies decided to do a chorus of 'If you're happy and you know it' in the canteen. Nothing to do with my 40 things list, but thought I would share it with you!

My Childhood Heroes

Of course there was Donny, Leif and even the Bay City Rollers. But one of my early childhood heroes was this guy - Tony Woodcock. He played for my beloved Nottingham Forest and was part of the championship winning side of 1978. So I have to include him in my novel, being as it's about football. Wouldn't it be cool if I could meet him at my book launch?

PS Actually wouldn't it be cool if I just had a book launch!