From street parties to Schwarzenegger, Nottingham Forest’s European odyssey through fans’ eyes | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest’s long-awaited European odyssey took supporters from Spain and Austria to the Netherlands, Portugal, Türkiye and Denmark, before ending in Birmingham with a Europa League semi-final defeat to Aston Villa.

As reported by Nottingham Post, it began in Seville on 24 September 2025, a 2-2 draw with Real Betis reached by Sean Connolly after completing the Three Peaks and racing from the airport. In Graz on 6 November, a 0-0 with Sturm included a detour to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s childhood home and a chance meeting with his cousin.

Utrecht on 11 December brought a 2-1 win and unexpected hospitality for Clive Dobbs, invited inside thanks to a connection rooted in his late father Cyril’s wartime bravery and links with Willem Janssen’s family.

Braga on 22 January was drenched and dreary, a 1-0 defeat brightened for a group of nine when former Braga player Nene helped source tickets at short notice. Soaked or not, the trip still delivered memories.

Istanbul on 19 February was different, Forest won 3-0 at Fenerbahce and the pre-match scene near the Blue Mosque, flags everywhere and unrelenting noise inside, left many awestruck.

In Herning on 19 March, Forest upset Midtjylland, winning 2-1 then 3-0 on penalties, and packed out Murphy’s to celebrate. Porto on 9 April was a 1-1 draw bookended by airport benches in Barcelona and long delays.

The curtain fell on 7 May with a 4-0 reverse in Birmingham, a flat ending to a three-decade wait. Yet the stories endured.

Above all, fans spoke of friendships, family and feeling closer to the club, from street parties to shared sleeps in terminals. For Gareth Coleman and his brother William, who has autism, new friends, and custard tarts, defined the journey.

Source: Nottingham Post