Much has happened since that glorious Sunday in May - the one which means Nottingham Forest are about to start a new (Premier League) chapter.
And for the first time since their promotion success, the Reds returned to action on UK soil on Tuesday night. It was a chance for many fans to get a first look at some of the club's new signings.
Nobody's interested in pre-season friendlies? Try telling that to the strong travelling contingent who thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the Pirelli Stadium.
READ MORE: Why Steve Cooper is 'thriving' on Nottingham Forest transfer challenge
READ MORE: How the players fared against Burton
A Steve Cook header saw Forest win 1-0 at Burton Albion as the build-up to the 2022/23 campaign continued, with players getting valuable match minutes in the bank. Sarah Clapson looks at some of the things we learned from the Reds' second summer outing.
The Cooper way
As soon as he arrived at the City Ground last September, Steve Cooper made clear he wanted to instil a certain identity in his team. It's clear that philosophy isn't about to change just because Forest will find themselves in the top flight.
Just as he did against Coventry City last week, the head coach urged his team to "play" as he yelled instructions from the sidelines. Players were told to push 'higher' and the defence was encouraged to pass out from the back.
Cooper spoke afterwards about building on what Forest did well last season - both in style and spirit. He knows they will need to be flexible, but the four new arrivals who started against the Brewers all looked at ease on the ball and fitted with the Welshman's approach. Cooper-ball is coming to a Premier League ground near you.
Summer signings
There was no Omar Richards or Neco Williams involved, but Dean Henderson, Moussa Niakhate, Giulian Biancone and Taiwo Awoniyi were all in the starting XI again. Initial impressions are that the club have done some good business.
The quartet have done well in their two outings so far, showing plenty of promise. All have the makings of being valuable additions.
Henderson has yet to be greatly tested but seems comfortable with the ball at his feet. He will benefit from having played the full 90 minutes on Tuesday night.
Niakhate, too, is decent in possession. In both games he has played on the right of the back three, with Cook in the middle and Joe Worrall on the right - Scott McKenna has yet to feature, being among the international group given a little extra time off.
Biancone is a versatile defender but has so far been deployed at right wing-back. Given the recent arrival of Williams, it could be a fierce fight for that spot - the ex-Troyes man has really impressed, offering an attacking outlet in both games.
Awoniyi, too, has shown glimpses of what he is capable of. He looks able to cause defences problems with his physical presence and was involved in some neat link-up play at the Pirelli. His hold-up play will be useful, too.
Young talent
In both friendlies, Cooper has made a raft of substitutions, bringing on a number of Under-23s players. On Friday, he rung the changes at half-time, whereas this time around they came with 25 minutes to go.
The manager admitted in Spain that some of those involved in the second half against Coventry could end up going out on loan or moving on. Nuno Da Costa and Xande Silva, for instance, may find themselves in the latter category.
But several youngsters have given a solid account of themselves when they’ve been given a chance. And Cooper wants to make sure the club’s “assets” have the opportunity to progress; finding the right pathway for that will be key.
The production line of talent at the Nigel Doughty Academy keeps coming. The likes of Oli Hammond, Riley Harbottle, Dale Taylor, Aaron Donnelly and Ateef Konate can be pleased with their performances. It might only have been a friendly, but these are nevertheless valuable experiences.
Breaking into the first-team is going to be even tougher this term - even for someone like Alex Mighten, who has been very bright in both games. In several cases, Forest must weigh up whether loan moves or staying around the senior squad will be best for development.
Cracking atmosphere
Reds fans packed out the away end at Burton. And they picked up from where they left off at Wembley, making themselves heard throughout.
There might not have been anything riding on this one, but it certainly seemed like they enjoyed themselves. Highlight of the night was the constant amusement from substitutions - and we had a lot of them - being sponsored by Doggy Day Care. Several times ‘there’s only one Doggy Day Care, one Doggy Day Care’ rang out.
There was also a pretty loud rendition of Mull of Kintyre before kick-off and a chorus of "Stevieee Cooper" was belted out with gusto. The boss duly obliged with a wave when asked, too.
Total attendance was a little more than 3,000, but Reds fans made it a fine atmosphere. The excitement is building for the season. And on this evidence, the support is going to be brilliant once again. The first game back at the City Ground is going to be something else.
Which of the new signings have you been most impressed with? Have your say in the comments below
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