Notts County saw what Nottingham Forest didn't with 19-goal star recently signed by David Beckham and Gary Neville-owned EFL club | OneFootball

Notts County saw what Nottingham Forest didn't with 19-goal star recently signed by David Beckham and Gary Neville-owned EFL club | OneFootball

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·21 July 2025

Notts County saw what Nottingham Forest didn't with 19-goal star recently signed by David Beckham and Gary Neville-owned EFL club

Article image:Notts County saw what Nottingham Forest didn't with 19-goal star recently signed by David Beckham and Gary Neville-owned EFL club

Nottingham Forest never saw the best of midfielder Jorge Grant, but he starred during a loan spell at Notts County.

Despite being located almost next door to each other, it is fair to say the rivalry between Notts County and Nottingham Forest is one of the less intense ones in English football.


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Notts County and Nottingham Forest's stadiums are situated just 270 metres apart, with only the River Trent separating them, but the two clubs have not had the chance to build up a particularly strong rivalry.

Given that they have often plied their trade a few divisions apart in recent times, meetings between the pair have been few and far between, with their only clash in the last 31 years coming back in August 2011 when they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the EFL Cup, which Forest went on to win on penalties.

Given the friendly relationship between the two clubs, Forest have had a number of transfer dealings with the Magpies over the years, with Ryan Yates and Harry Arter two of the more high-profile examples of players who have made the short journey across the river.

Another player who made the switch from the City Ground to Meadow Lane is midfielder Jorge Grant, and after he failed to establish himself in the Forest first team, he certainly made a big impact at Notts.

Notts County hit the jackpot with Jorge Grant deal after Nottingham Forest struggles

Article image:Notts County saw what Nottingham Forest didn't with 19-goal star recently signed by David Beckham and Gary Neville-owned EFL club

Grant joined Nottingham Forest from the Nike Academy in 2013, and after breaking into the senior squad the following year, he announced himself to supporters in explosive fashion.

On just his second appearance for the club, Grant gave Forest a second-half lead in an EFL Cup tie away to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, which his side eventually went on to lose 3-1, but unfortunately for the midfielder, he was unable to build on that impressive start to his City Ground career.

After scoring one goal and providing two assists in just 20 appearances in two-and-a-half years for Forest, Grant joined Notts County on loan in January 2017, and he arrived with the club deep in relegation trouble in League Two after a nightmare run of form over the winter period.

Grant proved to be an excellent addition for the Mapgies, and he played a key role in their revival under new manager Kevin Nolan, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 17 games to help them pull clear of danger and record a 16th-placed finish.

The 30-year-old's form at Meadow Lane was enough to convince Forest to hand him a new three-year contract in the summer of 2017, and shortly after penning his extension, he returned to Notts, this time on a season-long loan.

If Grant's first spell with the Magpies was impressive, he took his performances to a whole new level in the 2017-18 season, and he was instrumental as Nolan's men finished fifth in League Two, which set up a play-off semi-final tie against Coventry City.

However, the season would end in disappointment for Grant and his team-mates as Notts were beaten 5-2 on aggregate by the Sky Blues, and the midfielder's goal in the second leg was little more than a consolation as his side's promotion dreams were crushed in emphatic fashion.

After missing out on promotion, the Magpies were unable to bring Grant back for a third stint, and his absence was certainly felt the following season as the club were relegated from the EFL for the first time in their history.

Jorge Grant could come back to haunt Notts County after Salford City switch

Article image:Notts County saw what Nottingham Forest didn't with 19-goal star recently signed by David Beckham and Gary Neville-owned EFL club

After spells with Luton Town, Mansfield Town, Lincoln City and Peterborough United, Grant made the move north of the border with Hearts in June 2022, and he scored 10 goals and registered 10 assists in 113 appearances during a three-year spell at Tynecastle before departing at the end of his contract this summer.

Grant is now back in English football after joining Salford City on a free transfer earlier this month, and with his new side likely to be in the promotion mix in League Two next season, he could potentially come back to haunt Notts County.

The Magpies finished sixth in the table last season, while the Ammies narrowly missed out on the top seven, but after the East Midlands outfit were beaten by AFC Wimbledon in their play-off semi-final, they are facing another year in the fourth tier, and they may not be as fancied for promotion this time around.

After parting company with Stuart Maynard in May, Notts appointed Martin Paterson as their new head coach, but he won just five of his 20 games in charge of League One side Burton Albion in his only previous managerial role, and the creation of a new Technical Board, which will see the owners have some involvement in team selection, has also alarmed supporters.

In contrast, Salford are now under fresh ownership after a consortium including Gary Neville and David Beckham bought out the rest of the Class of '92 back in May, and with a proven EFL manager in Karl Robinson at the helm and a strong squad that has been bolstered by some impressive new signings this summer, an exciting season could be ahead at the Peninsula Stadium.

Of course, Grant is now eight years older than when he left Notts, so he may not be able to perform to quite the same level he did during his spell at Meadow Lane, but he still possesses plenty of quality, and he could be the man to help guide the Ammies to promotion next season, possibly at his former club's expense.

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