Nottingham Forest signing Notts County reject will go down in folklore: View | OneFootball

Over the years, many players have crossed the River Trent both ways in search of regular first-team football, but in recent years that move has only been one way.

In recent times, Jorge Grant and Ryan Yates have kickstarted their careers with Nottingham Forest's neighbours, Notts County, producing impressive seasons at Meadow Lane and going on to forge notable careers as a result.

But having been rejected by the Magpies at 15-years-old, Wes Morgan would go on to become a Reds legend at the City Ground, having plied his trade in the lower leagues of Nottingham, which was the start of a career beyond his wildest dreams.

Wes Morgan's Nottingham Forest career

Before putting pen to paper on a deal at the City Ground, Morgan used his rejection from Meadow Lane as motivation to continue to chase his dream.

While studying, the defender would play for local side, Dunkirk, with his performances in non-league attracting the attention of the two-time Champions League winners.

He would be taken on as an apprentice as he continued his studies at South Notts College, with the transfer fee to The Boatmen not paid in cash, but in two Forest kits, which are still hung up in the club's clubhouse today.

During his first season, he was loaned out to Third Division side Kidderminster Harriers, but manager, Paul Hart, insisted a breakthrough to the first-team was close given his performances in the reserve side.

He would make his debut for the Reds in the 2003-04 season, playing at left-back in a goalless draw with Port Vale in the League club, before making his debut in a defeat to Reading.

Morgan's first goal for the club would come three months later as Forest thrashed Wimbledon at the City Ground, totalling 32 league games across his first season with the club.

The defender would then become a regular starter for Forest and endear himself to the Reds faithful, missing only four games in all competitions during the 2007/08 campaign, helping the club earn promotion to the Championship on a dramatic final day, with Forest's win - combined with Doncaster Rovers' defeat at Cheltenham Town - seeing them take the second automatic promotion spot.

Morgan found it hard adapting to life back in the second tier during the first half of the 2008-09 season, with Forest languishing in the relegation zone by Christmas.

As a result, Calderwood was dismissed on Boxing Day, with Billy Davies taking charge. As a result, a more defensively solid team was formed and the Reds would retain their Championship status.

His final season with the club in 2011 saw the Jamaican make his 400th appearance for the Garabaldi Red in a defeat against Hull City, a game which also saw him handed the captaincy of the club he had spent eight years with.

Morgan would leave the club a legend having produced some memorable displays throughout the years, and is fondly remembered by Forest fans for what he gave to the club.

Wes Morgan was not only a cult hero at the City Ground - he was at Leicester City too

Prior to leaving the City Ground, Forest had initially rejected a bid from Leicester City for the services of the defender, but would later join the Foxes in the January window for an undisclosed fee and, during his first season with the club, was handed the captaincy ahead of the 2012/13 season.

Morgan would lead his side to the Championship title the season after, and would help them produce the great escape upon their return to the Premier League.

He would cement himself in Foxes history the season after, featuring in all 38 games, one of only four players to achieve the feat in a title winning season, as Leicester won the Premier League title for the first time in their history - Morgan would also become the first Jamaican to win the trophy.

A debut in the Champions League would follow the season after, but Morgan would add one more accolade to his trophy cabinet in his final season with the club.

Emerging from the bench as an 82nd minute substitute, the defender would help the Foxes win their first ever FA Cup trophy, announcing his retirement from football at the end of the season.

Across his 19-year professional career, Morgan endeared himself to two sets of rivalling fans in the East Midlands, and is widely regarded as one of the best players to feature for either club in recent times.

From rejection at Notts County to making his final appearance under the Wembley arch, Morgan will be remembered as a modern day great.