Matt Appleby travelled from New York to Munich to see Forest the last time they were in Europe.
A Nottingham Forest fan who travelled from New York to Germany to see the team in its last European campaign in 1995 said he feels his beloved Reds are now back where they "belong".
Matt Appleby, was in his 20s when Nottingham Forest last played a European fixture.
He still remembers the bitter cold when he arrived in Munich for the first leg of the UEFA Cup quarter-final, after he made the trip from New York, where he lived at the time.
"There was no way I was going to miss Forest in a UEFA Cup quarter-final," he said.
And 30 years later, he said it was "good to be back".
"Seeing Forest and seeing those UEFA badges on the Forest website and on the shirts and so on, it kind of feels right somehow," the now 53-year-old said.
Speaking to BBC from the mountains of Malaga, on the way to Seville for Wednesday's fixture against Real Betis, Mr Appleby said: "I remember vividly the first game against Malmo in September 1995 and of course that was notable because we played Malmo in the 1979 European cup final - so that trip was memorable.
Mr Appleby travelled to a number of Forest's UEFA Cup games with friends, but after he moved to New York, he faced near eight-hour trips to some matches - including the quarter-final that saw Forest knocked out.
He said he had to "carefully time" his trips to make sure he arrived on time for matches.
"It was a memorable campaign and we had a really good team then, under Frank Clark," he said.
"But nobody really would've ever anticipated that it would be 29 years until we were back in Europe again.
"I flew out on Monday morning from East Midlands [Airport] very early and there was a real air of excitement."
Mr Appleby added his children are now in their early 20s and Forest had been "pretty terrible" throughout most of their lives.
But he added: "It's great for them to be able to see Forest being a bit more successful."
Despite some nerves, particularly after recent developments at the club, including welcoming a new manager, Mr Appleby was optimistic.
He added: "We've got some real pedigree in Europe so actually it's almost like we feel like we belong, actually."
Mr Appleby hoped new manager Ange Postecoglou could replicate his success at Tottenham Hotspur - where he won the Europa League trophy last season.
"Who knows? Stranger things have happened."
Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
- 'An indescribable feeling' to score against Lyon
- From brink of relegation to Europe - the story of Forest's revival
Related internet links
Category: General Sports
