Nottingham Forest is one of the clubs in England that possesses a rich wealth of history, demonstrated by the two stars on the club badge.

It is a small detail that points to one of the most remarkable achievements in English football history, and it is something which defines the Midlands club.

Here’s a deeper look at what that history is, and why it is so important for its history and the wider pedigree it holds within the annals of football folklore.

Why does Nottingham Forest have two stars above their crest?

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Simply put, the two stars represent Forest’s crowning achievements: back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980.

Both of those were won under the legendary figure of Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor. The first came in Munich in 1979, as Forest beat Malmö 1-0 through Trevor Francis — who was also Britain’s first £1million footballer.

Their second triumph came twelve months later in Madrid, as they defended the trophy against Hamburg, with John Robertson scoring the only goal of the game to see off a side featuring the late Kevin Keegan.

Marking European Cup wins with stars above a badge is something a handful of British clubs have adopted. Granted, teams typically have achievements on the sleeves of kits, to showcase history, but Forest opted for it to go on the front of the jerseys.

Nottingham Forest club crest design and meaning

The badge as a whole is built around symbols of the city and the club’s identity, which all combine for an iconic look.
In terms of the crest, it was introduced in 1974 and the stars were added after the success rather than forming part of the original design.
Forest are one of only five English clubs to have won the European Cup or Champions League, alongside Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Chelsea. This speaks to the achievement that Clough and Forest achieved in the space of three seasons.
Here are some details that explain the full badge:

• The tree — a nod to Sherwood Forest and to the club’s name, which derives from the Forest Recreation Ground where Forest first played
• The river — the wavy lines beneath the tree represent the River Trent, which runs past the City Ground
• The colours — red and white, with Forest’s Garibaldi red dating back to 1865 and named after the Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose followers wore red shirts
• The stars — added above the crest to denote the two European Cups

Nicknames are an integral part of football’s identity, with many clubs earning monikers that reflect their history, location or traditions.

Some are rooted in local industry, others in famous supporters or historic events, while a select few have become as recognisable as the clubs they represent.

Hull City have long been known as ‘The Tigers‘, a nickname that has become synonymous with the club for more than a century.

The name has become a defining part of Hull’s identity and remains one of the most iconic nicknames in English football, despite previous efforts to rebrand the club simply as ‘Hull Tigers’.

How Hull Became ‘Hull Tigers’

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According to Mike Covell of The Hull Hub, ‘the Tigers’ nickname has been around since the start of the 20th century, and it has stuck with the East Yorkshire side ever since.

The March 6th edition of the ‘The Hull Daily Mail‘ in 1905 features the earliest reference to the nickname ‘the Tigers’ in reference to Hull City, written by columnist ‘Athleo’.

In an article following a 5-2 victory over Leeds City, ‘Athleo’ suggested the Hull City faithful needed a “battle cry” to cheer their team on, and that a nickname of ‘the Tigers’ would be suitable, given they played in black and yellow stripes.

The writer also suggested that “a lusty chorus of ‘Played, Tigers!” would have suited the 5-2 drubbing, whilst other reports from the time suggest that the chant of “Come on the Tigers” would regularly break out on the terraces.

Other Hull City Nicknames

With almost identical origins to that of ‘the Tigers’, some fans unofficially refer to the club as ‘the Amber and Blacks’, owing to their home strip. The nickname has been used for decades by the media and fans, and even provided the namesake for fan music duo ‘Amber & Black’, who wrote the club anthem ‘The Tigers are Back‘ in 1983.

Other examples of team nicknames stemming from kit colours can be seen in English football, including ‘the Claret and Blues’ of Aston Villa and West Ham, or ‘the Tangerines’ from Blackpool.

Similarly to many teams across the country, local fans will refer to the club simply as ‘City’, although this is rarely used outside the area, given the various number of clubs in the country which feature ‘city’ in their name.

‘The Tigers’ nickname provided a source of contention for many fans after former owner Assem Allam announced that the club would be rebranded as ‘Hull City Tigers’ back in 2013. Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail, the Egyptian-born businessman claimed that “Hull City is irrelevant”, adding that his “dislike for the word ‘City’ is because it is common” and that “city is a lousy identity.”

Hull’s supporters resisted the change, arguing that the nickname shouldn’t be featured in the club’s official name, with the FA later rejecting the prospective change.

A midfield rebuild has been the main priority for Manchester United but signing a new striker is under consideration.

Benjamin Sesko impressed during his debut season, especially after Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January. The Slovenian shared most of the team’s goals with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

Carrick turned to Joshua Zirkzee in the last three games of the season due to Sesko sustaining a shin injury. The Dutch attacker failed to impress and speculation is growing over a potential summer exit.

Zirkzee has been linked with a move to Serie A giants Juventus while AS Roma have also shown interest. If he moves on, it looks as though INEOS have decided on a replacement.

Man Utd Monitoring Ollie Watkins

Should Zirkzee move on, signing a new centre-forward becomes somewhat of a necessity and the club could reignite their interest in Ollie Watkins. The Aston Villa striker had been on the Red Devils’ radar before they decided to sign Sesko as their new number nine.

According to SunSport, United are monitoring Watkins’ situation at Villa and if Zirkzee leaves, they will make an “official approach” for the English frontman. Arsenal are also keeping tabs after Fernerbahce planned to make a £30 million bid.

The Turkish giants decided against submitting the offer after Villa made it clear that they wouldn’t accept it. The Villans are thought to be willing to consider offers of around £40 million for the player.

Watkins, described as “exceptional” has two years left on his contract at Villa Park and has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent finishers over the years. Last season, the 30-year-old scored 16 goals in 37 league games despite enduring a rough patch.

Watkins is a Must-Have For Man Utd

If United want to challenge for major honours, Watkins is the type of signing that helps them do so. An experienced striker who has been superb during his time at Villa and is probably the second-best English striker behind Harry Kane.

Sesko is obviously Carrick’s main frontman but adding Watkins to his squad gives him another option who is reliable. That’s not been the case with Zirkzee who managed just two goals in 24 league games last season.

The price might be an issue given the club are looking to sign a third midfielder and potentially a new left-back. But you know what you’re getting from him and that’s goals along with an extensive understanding of the English game.