Nottingham Forest are actively seeking to revive the famous City Ground atmosphere after a prolonged home win drought. The club has held discussions with fan groups about restoring the '12th man' advantage, acknowledging a quieter stadium has coincided with poor results.
Chief football officer George Syrianos met with representatives from the Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust and Forza Garibaldi last week. The talks centred on how to rekindle the connection between team and supporters. Forest's recent form at home has been a major concern, with the team scoring only 4 goals in their last 6 Premier League matches at the City Ground. That run has left the side 15th in the table with five points from six matches.
Andy Caddell of the Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust said the scale of the home struggle has been surprising. "The fact we have won only once here, in the Premier League, in 2026, has crept up on us a bit," Caddell said. "We have, to a degree, lost our 12th man, haven’t we? And you feel as though results are more important than anything else." The subdued mood was captured last month when away fans during the 0-0 draw with Tottenham chanted, 'Where’s your famous atmosphere?'
Efforts to restore the matchday experience
Forest are exploring structural and cultural changes to improve the matchday experience. One confirmed idea under consideration is relocating visiting supporters from behind the goal in the John Robertson Stand. The club is also revisiting traditions like the post-win fireworks from Eva’s Grill, a Greek restaurant near the ground, which have not been lit for almost six months. Syrianos told fans that manager Oliver Glasner, who has a three-year contract, has time to build his project.
Glasner himself is trying to shift the focus away from negative statistics. "If you always talk about the problem, you make it bigger and bigger," Glasner said in a recent press conference. "Not just in football, but in life." He successfully used a similar approach to mute talk of late concessions when at Crystal Palace and hopes for a reset when Arsenal visit this Sunday. The team's goal minutes this season show a particular struggle early in games, with 0 goals scored in the opening 15 minutes of matches.
What the fans and former managers say
Supporters reflect that some reduction in atmosphere feels natural in a fifth consecutive Premier League season, compared to the pure excitement of the first campaign back. The emotional bonds forged under managers like Steve Cooper, Sabri Lamouchi and Nuno Espirito Santo were significant. Cooper highlighted that connection on Sky Sports, saying it helped the team through its first year in the top flight. Last season's churn across four managers, however, has left a hangover as Glasner builds rapport.
The historical importance of a strong City Ground is clear. In the 2022-23 season, Forest secured 30 of their 38 points at home to survive. Under Nuno in 2025, memorable home wins over Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United propelled the team to a seventh-place finish. The squad list, which you can review on our squad page, needs to rediscover that fortress mentality.
With only one win, two draws and three losses so far this term, the need for improvement is urgent. Forest face a stern test against an Arsenal side sitting second in the standings. The last meeting at the City Ground ended in a goalless draw in January. Glasner will be hoping a revived atmosphere can help his team start turning their home ground back into a feared venue, beginning with this weekend's match.
More detail at nytimes.com
