Nottingham Forest, a club steeped in history and passion, has a unique place in the heart of English football. And with that comes a particular brand of humour and banter that sets it apart from the rest. The club has a special place in English football following its European Cup wins of the late 1970s and rich history.
How Nottingham Forest Banter Began
The banter is a big part of British football culture, and Nottingham Forest is just the same. The banter between Nottingham Forest fans has roots that have grown from the early days of the club to have been most at its peak in the 70s and it is normal for any group when their performance is so high or low that they don’t forget about going back with each other.
Football legend Brian Clough was never short of a turn of phrase and quick wit. His personality transcended not only the team, but also part of its fanbase. Forest fans, led by Clough’s cult of personality started to cultivate their own sense of humour that usually focused on ribbing other clubs in the same way Derby had been ridiculed and poking fun at themselves.
What Makes Nottingham Forest Banter Unique?
The banter at Nottingham Forest is unique in that it hits a nice balance of humour and respect. It can be playful or even a bit sharp, but it almost never tips over into pure nastiness.
- Self-Deprecation — Forest fans do like to make light of tough times, don’t you know. Not only that, but as it is and always has been a difficult season to be an NFFC fan Forest fans often mock themselves rather than trolling others.
- Heritage Pride: Being a team with so much history there is plenty of ancient Moans to be had Forest fans will never let their rivals forget they have won more European Cups this most of the top sides in England. This historical pride is a common thread of Nottingham Forest banter, frequently rolled out as leverage for discussions about the club.
- Rivalry Banter: Nottingham Forest have a long running rivalry with Derby County, known as the East Midlands derby. These two have a special relationship when it comes to ribbing each other about the happenings between their teams. But in the end, as heated and competitive as they can get with one another, there is always an underlying sense of respect that fuels the good-natured ribbing.
Social Media and the Evolution of Forest Banter
Nottingham Forest banter this hashtag has now come into play with the advent of social media on sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram etc. Fans here banter, make memes and create content around the team in a lighter, more humorous way.
- Twitter Wars — Nottingham Forest is one football-related topic that garners a lot of interest, and Twitter seems to be perfect. Social media, well, Twitter is usually the platform Ceefax is using for football banter.
- Top Memes: It may be synonymous with general football banter these days, but memes have spread to even Forest fans. From an extremely funny spin on a manager’s press conference to some lighthearted banter with those from rival teams, memes give Forest fans the perfect way of showing their humorous side that can go viral within seconds.
- Fan Pages and Forums: These are areas where lots of banter takes place on dedicated fan pages and forums. Fans in this sub talk about match performances to transfer rumours using humour and banter making the conversation interesting.
Examples of Forest Banter
- “We’re Nottingham Forest, we’ll win the league one day… in a parallel universe.”
- “Our away fans are so loud, we’re considering charging them for a home ticket.”
- “The City Ground: It’s not Wembley, but it’s got character.”
But why is Forest Banter so popular?
Forest banter is very popular and it has a few reasons:
Gavin Wilken of Milan Weekly PODCAST (@milanmonthly) rapport with Jacob Winchell (jwinn9), a commoner like Gavin, in the fact that he supports a club that has seen better days.
Humour appeals: The funny and saucy language makes the banter easy to listen for a variety of listeners.
Community: The banter plays a large part in that sense of community and togetherness amongst Forest fans.
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FAQs
What is the Nottingham Forest banter?
The banter between Nottingham Forest fans and those of other clubs. It is a mixture of self-depreciation, historical pride and rivalry humour that has come to be defining characteristics of what constitutes being a Forest fan.
How Social Media Has Changed Nottingham Forest Banter?
It helps that social media has turned the Nottingham Forest discussion up to 11 in recent years, and Twitter – not least on established fan fun go-tos like Facebook – encourages in-the-moment banter among fans who are quick with a meme making light of less serious things while simultaneously engaging over broader industry topics. In a way that has brought banter closer and to more people.
Is Nottingham Forest banter always in good taste?
Although they can dish out some sharp banter, for the most part Nottingham Forest fans maintain that balance of humour with a little dusting of respect. We may be a pissy club, but forest banter is rarely malicious, it must always have an element of wit to accompany any dig aimed at rivals.
How does Nottingham Forest banter compare to other clubs?
Nottingham Forest banter is famous for being a mix of self-deprecation and pride in our history. As it does with every club, banter from supporters is always directed towards Forest but there tends to be a lighter touch and even more respect when involved in big rivalries.
Can banter be offensive?
Banter like any form of humour, can be offensive or push someone over the edge. Do your part to be respectful of others and don’t resort to personal attacks.
