The 2009–10 season was Nottingham Forest's second season in the Football League Championship, following promotion from League One in the 2007–08 season, and after spending three years in the third tier.
Team kit
Club officials Board of Directors
RoleNatNameChairman:Nigel DoughtyChief Executive:Mark ArthurFinance Director:John PellingAssociate Director:Tim Farr
Technical staff
RoleNatNameManager:Billy DaviesAssistant Manager:David KellyGoalkeeping Coach:Peter WilliamsFirst Team Coach:Julian DarbyAssistant First Team Coach:Chris FaircloughHead Physiotherapist:Andrew BalderstonPhysiotherapist:Steve DevinePhysiotherapist:Andy HuntYouth Academy Director:Nick MarshallYouth Academy Coach:Russell LovettYouth Academy Coach:Tony CookHead Academy Scout:Tasos MakisMedical Consultant: Dr Frank CoffeyPerformance Coach:Darren RobinsonKit Manager:Terry FarndaleChief Scout:Keith BurtFootball Analyst:John HarrowerClub Consultant:David Pleat
Pre-season and friendlies Summary
In preparation for the 2009–10 campaign, Forest released seven fringe players. Richard Tait, Hamza Bencherif, Liam Hook, Tom Sharpe, Ryan Whitehurst, Emile Sinclair and Paddy Gamble were all released with Sinclair the only player to make first team appearances. Ian Breckin was also told he would play no part next season. Another three fringe players were given new contracts, Mickael Darnet, Shane Redmond and Arron Mitchell. Forest then signed three players in two days in late June. Striker David McGoldrick signed for £1m from Southampton, whilst fellow striker Dele Adebola rejected a new contract offer from Bristol City to sign a two-year deal for The Reds As well as this, winger Paul Anderson signed a three-year deal for £250,000 from Liverpool, after spending the previous season on loan at The Reds. Goalkeeper Lee Camp became Forest's fourth signing of the summer on 3 July, signing for £150,000 from QPR, with the highly rated keeper committing himself to a four-year deal with the club. Youngsters Shane Redmond and James Reid headed out of the City Ground for six-month loans to Burton Albion and Rushden & Diamonds respectively on 7 July. Forest announced a day later that their shirt sponsors for the season would be gaming company Victor Chandler, with the one-year contract seeing Forest receive a substantial six-figure sum. On Thursday 16 July, Forest announced their full list of squad numbers for the 09/10 season.
The Reds then kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 1–0 victory over Portuguese outfit Sporting CP, with Paul Anderson netting the winner in the 79th minute for Forest. A week later Forest sent out two teams to play Burton Albion and Ilkeston Town. The first team beat Burton 4–1 with McGoldrick netting his first goal and Tyson bagging a hat-trick, whilst a young and inexperienced team lost 2–1 to Ilkeston, Tim Hopkinson scoring a late consolation penalty. On 20 July Nottingham Forest completed the signings of Chris Gunter and Paul McKenna for £1.75 million and £750,000 respectively. Mark Byrne was also sent out on loan to Rushden and Diamonds for six months. On 21 July a deal was completed to bring back Joel Lynch, who spent a large amount of time on loan at Forest last season. Along with Forest's payment of around £200,000, Matt Thornhill was sent out on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion for 6 months. On 22 July Forest signed Dexter Blackstock from QPR for on a 4-year deal. This bolstered Davies' attacking options to six strikers. They continued their spending on the 22nd by bringing in Polish Midfielder Radoslaw Majewski on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy him included. Later that day Forest sent two teams out in pre-season friendlies, one to face Rotherham United, the other to face Rushden and Diamonds. The first team squad was mixed between the 2 matches as one side beat Rotherham 1–0 with Earnshaw's first goal of the pre-season while the other drew 1–1 with Diamonds thanks to a goal from Majewski on his debut scored after just 90 seconds. Three days later was the traditional match between Forest and local rivals Notts County, who has just been taken over by the Munto Finance group. The result was 2–1 to County despite late pressure from Forest that saw McGugan get a goal, this surprised many people who had expected Forest to easily win. Forest finished their pre-season fixtures with two impressive results at home against Premier League opposition. The first a 1–1 draw against Stoke City and the second, two days later, a 2–1 victory against Birmingham City.
Results DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance12 July 2009Sporting CPA1–0Anderson 79'—18 July 2009Burton AlbionA4–1McGoldrick 28', Tyson (3) 46', 53', 56'2,01318 July 2009Ilkeston TownA1–2Hopkinson (pen.)—22 July 2009Rotherham UnitedA1–0Earnshaw 7'1,22322 July 2009Rushden and DiamondsA1–1Majewski 2'—25 July 2009Notts CountyA1–2McGugan 73'12,04029 July 2009Stoke CityH1–1McGoldrick 30'5,5421 August 2009Birmingham CityH2–1McGoldrick 41', Earnshaw 82'6,735
Football League Championship Summary
Forest began the season with a 0–0 draw at Reading, the same as their previous season. Forest then picked up their first win of the season a few days later with a 3–0 victory in the League Cup over League Two Bradford City, with Paul Anderson, Dexter Blackstock and Lewis McGugan all getting their names onto the scoresheet. However, their first home league game of the season ended in a 1–0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, due to an own goal by Wes Morgan and Robert Earnshaw missed a penalty for Forest. Forest then suffered their second home defeat of the week, a 4–2 loss against Watford. The following Saturday saw Forest pick up a point in a 1–1 draw away to Q.P.R, with a goal from David McGoldrick in the second half. The next fixture was a midweek League Cup tie against Middlesbrough at the City Ground. Forest won 2–1 after extra time, after Chambers scored from a corner in the 60th minute and Radoslaw Majewski scored his first goal for Forest in the 103 minute. Next up was the East Midlands derby against rivals Derby County. Forest were looking to beat Derby for the first time since 2003, and they got off to a perfect start when Majewski fired the Reds in front after just 58 seconds. Forest made it 2–0 after 28 minutes, Dexter Blackstock with the goal. Nathan Tyson made it 3–0, just three minutes before half time. However Derby were not done yet when a Wes Morgan own goal and Jake Livermore goal had Derby back into the game. Forest held onto the win but it was after the game that made the headlines with Nathan Tyson celebrating the win by parading a corner flag, emblazoned with the Forest emblem, across the away fans. Tyson, and Forest as a whole, argued that the gesture was celebratory and the move across the away fans was so Tyson could salute the home fans above and at the other end of the away end. The Derby contingent disagreed, believing that the gesture was inflammatory. Derby players and staff clashed with Forest players and staff. The FA charged Forest and Derby with "failing to control their players", while Tyson was charged with improper conduct. Tyson pleaded guilty to his charge, as did Derby. Forest pleaded not guilty. The FA fined Forest £25,000 and Derby £20,000, with £10,000 suspended for both. Tyson was fined £5,000 and given a two-game ban which was suspended.