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My First Football Shirt: Matt Newsums
We caught up with Matt Newsum, a journalist for the BBC about his love of Nottingham Forest, the beautiful 79 European Cup winning shirt and seeing Des Walker’s 1st goal for Forest. This Interview was done as part of our My First Football Shirt series.
What was your first football shirt?
THAT Brian Rice goal, #OnThisDay in 1988.
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) March 12, 2021
👌 #NFFC pic.twitter.com/juGdgq4Hm4
My first shirt, having been bullied into supporting Nottingham Forest, was the 1988 top. My family were all from Nottingham, supported the red half of the city, but my parents had moved away, opening me up to the temptations of an Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United.
It didn’t take much persuasion to turn me though and once I’d stood in the Trent End for the County Cup Final against Mansfield on a family trip back to the midlands, I was hooked. I soon outgrew the shirt but my love for Forest continued, although I confess I’m slightly lapsed these days.
What is your favourite football shirt?
Tough call. I’m a bit of a saddo about kits. Though under duress I have sold many of my collection on ebay. I’ve always coveted a Forest 1979 kit, the European Cup winners one, such simple beauty. Our current Adidas efforts are a pale shadow. Otherwise I think France's 1984 top is pretty peerless, love the old trefoil logo, the gold badge and the collar, and Denmark's 1986 effort is another I’d give my teeth for. I think the quality and cult-status of those teams helps. My favourite shirt I own is either a rugby league one – Sydney Roosters from the early 1990s, or a Mainz football shirt which I swapped for a Forest one at the 2006 World Cup.
What is your favourite goal?
The only goal of Des Walker's career for Forest v Luton in 1992 #nffc @DTguardian @NottmForestNews pic.twitter.com/iAWpvDBc2s
— @forgottengoals (@forgottengoals) September 27, 2018
As I was there, and a huge fan, probably Des Walker’s first goal for Forest on New Year’s Day 1992, a last gasp equaliser against Luton Town. Pure nosebleed territory. Otherwise, Stuart Pearce’s free-kick against Coventry in a Littlewoods Cup semi-final against Coventry was a real corker – helped by Brian Moore’s passionate tones. And away from Forest, Lothar Matthaus’ goal against Yugoslavia at Italia 90.
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