07-28-2019, 09:40 PM
19 years ago this week, we were looking forward to an away match at Nottingham Forest, with some new found optimism after an awful previous season, which admittedly did end on a high. With 3 new permanent signings, plus three other players signed at the March transfer deadline (yes, kids, you could sign players all season until the final Thursday in March then - hence no pant wetting in the Summer) and the return of Lee Hughes, injured in April v Ipswich, Albion, under Megson were embarking on a new era. And Ruel Fox was also poised to sign - a real coup at the time. In fact, Only 6 players remained from the squad at the first game of the previous season. We lost 0-1 in a close game, by all accounts.
You may say that the start of the revival of sorts, was staying up and beating Charlton on the final match of the 99/00 season, but this was the season we got going and we've never finished below this position in the League since. I was living in London then, so didn't go to Forest, but saw the first home game v Bolton, which we lost 0-2. We did ok, huffed and puffed, but were short v a fancied Bolton side. We then lost 1-4 at Barnsley, before we finally earned points v QPR on Bank Holiday Monday. Then we climbed the table steadily and for the first time in over a decade, we looked a decent squad - even with Van Blerk on the LHS of midfield. We ended that season finishing 6th and losing to Bolton in the Play-offs, but it was the beginning of the start of Albion being taken seriously again. And we saw an upturn in average crowds.
It was also the first few weeks of Rivals when you could post with any name. Any of you ont his dump then? And which 2 future Albion players turned out for Forest that day?
You may say that the start of the revival of sorts, was staying up and beating Charlton on the final match of the 99/00 season, but this was the season we got going and we've never finished below this position in the League since. I was living in London then, so didn't go to Forest, but saw the first home game v Bolton, which we lost 0-2. We did ok, huffed and puffed, but were short v a fancied Bolton side. We then lost 1-4 at Barnsley, before we finally earned points v QPR on Bank Holiday Monday. Then we climbed the table steadily and for the first time in over a decade, we looked a decent squad - even with Van Blerk on the LHS of midfield. We ended that season finishing 6th and losing to Bolton in the Play-offs, but it was the beginning of the start of Albion being taken seriously again. And we saw an upturn in average crowds.
It was also the first few weeks of Rivals when you could post with any name. Any of you ont his dump then? And which 2 future Albion players turned out for Forest that day?