As Nottingham Forest mark 50 years of their iconic crest, defender Joe Worrall is well aware what it means to also have the Premier League logo on the shirt.
And the boyhood Reds fan is determined to do everything possible to ensure it remains there. As Steve Cooper’s side fight for survival, the Nigel Doughty Academy graduate is keen to remind some of his teammates what wearing the badge means.
Forest celebrated a half-century of Nottingham Post competition winner David Lewis’ design during Sunday’s clash with Manchester United. For Worrall, it has an extra special meaning.
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“It just reminds me of home,” the centre-back told NottinghamshireLive. “It reminds me of seeing the Forest badge when growing up.
“My recollections of Forest are reading the score in the Evening Post on a Sunday after my dad had bought it. I couldn’t get to as many games as I wanted to when I was younger because I was playing on Saturdays and Sundays for Hucknall, so the majority of my Forest experience as a kid was listening on the radio and reading player ratings and reviews in the Evening Post and seeing the badge.
“Even the old Forest badge was quite cool, but this one is iconic. And it’s comforting, because it’s my home club.
“Especially with the two stars, it’s something that gets recognised everywhere. It’s something that just looks right and is instantly recognisable. It’s a fantastic badge.
“It still means the same wearing it now. I was so nervous when I first started; I felt the weight of the world was on my shoulders stepping out in front of all those people. Now, having played so many games, you kind of get used to the pressures.
“But that feeling of immense pride of wearing the shirt never changes. I still get goosebumps hearing Mull of Kintyre, and when you look down during a game and you’ve got the badge on your chest, you just think, ‘Yeah, this is what I’ve always wanted’.
“It’s something I definitely don’t take for granted. Even coming in every day, it’s my favourite thing to do. I love it. Being in and around the lads, wearing the kit, it’s just something I’ve wanted to do my whole life. I’m very lucky to be doing it.
“There definitely is a weight which comes with wearing the shirt. But you have to look at it in a positive light. You’d rather be playing for a big club like Forest than maybe a lesser club without the history and without the recognition Forest have had over the years.”
Worrall lifted the play-offs trophy at Wembley last May as the Reds ended their long absence from the top-flight. With seven games to go this season they still have a chance of avoiding the drop, and the club captain isn’t giving up.
“We’ve got such a unique opportunity as players at this club at the moment, being back in the Premier League after such a long time, the financial backing off the owner (Evangelos Marinakis), we need to make the most of it,” added Worrall. “It’s something we are doing. Especially the lads who have been here for a while, we are trying to tell lads who have just walked in the door how special a football club and city it is.
“The Premier League logo tops it off. It’s better than what we’ve had before, with the Championship badge. But that can soon be taken away from us if we don’t knuckle down and realise how much of an opportunity we have.
“I’m just very, very fortunate that in my playing career Forest are actually back in the Premier League. A lot of players, managers and good people have come to Forest, tried and failed.
“I’m very, very lucky that I’m here and have got the opportunity to play in the big league with my club. I just want to do it for as long as possible.”
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