“Sheep vs. Trees: The Glorious Madness of the East Midlands Derby”
Ah, the East Midlands Derby: that glorious, bonkers, occasionally terrifying fixture where Derby County and Nottingham Forest come together to settle a question older than time itself—what’s better, sheep or trees?
For the uninitiated, you might be thinking: “Wait, sheep versus trees? Isn’t this football?” Oh, it is. But the Nottingham Forest–Derby County rivalry is not your ordinary footballing spat. This is a Shakespearean drama played out on muddy pitches, in packed pubs, and most importantly, in the hearts of fans who would happily wear “I’d rather walk barefoot on Lego than support them lot” T-shirts.
A Rivalry Born in Geography (and Grudges)
Derby and Nottingham are only 14 miles apart, which is basically next door in English terms. The two cities have been quietly glaring at each other for centuries—back when the biggest arguments were over who had the best market stalls, the most wool, or who could claim Robin Hood as their own.
When football arrived in the late 1800s, it became the perfect outlet for this simmering neighbourly disdain. Forest fans looked at Derby and thought, “They’re basically sheep farmers.” Derby looked at Forest and said, “Well, at least we don’t name ourselves after plants.” And thus, history was made.
The Brian Clough Connection: Drama Fit for Netflix
Of course, no discussion of Forest and Derby is complete without mentioning the man, the myth, the tracksuit-clad legend: Brian Clough. He managed both clubs, and not just “popped in for a cup of tea” managed them—he actually turned Derby into league champions and then made Forest European royalty.
Imagine how awkward that makes things. It’s like your ex becoming best friends with your current partner, moving into the spare room, and then reminding you every morning how much happier they are now.
Both sets of fans claim Clough as their own, but in reality, he belongs to both and neither. His statue in Nottingham gets flowers. His statue in Derby gets scarves. Somewhere in the afterlife, Clough is no doubt smirking, pint in hand, loving the chaos he left behind.
The Brian Clough Trophy: Silverware With Extra Spite
In 2007, the clubs decided they needed something tangible to fight over—other than bragging rights, broken pint glasses, and sore throats from chanting. Enter the Brian Clough Trophy, a shiny piece of silverware that has the magical power to make winning fans unbearably smug for months on end.
This means every Forest–Derby clash isn’t just about three points. Oh no. It’s about keeping (or stealing) that trophy. It’s about being able to text your mate across the border and write, “Even Brian thinks we’re better.”
The Nicknames: Sheep vs. Trees
Derby’s fans are affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) called “sheep,” thanks to the club’s ram mascot. Forest fans never tire of baa-ing noises whenever Derby visit. Derby fans, naturally, fire back by mocking Forest’s love of trees—often with chants about deforestation or garden centres.
On paper, it sounds silly. In practice, it’s war. To the casual observer, it’s two sets of people yelling farmyard noises and tree jokes at each other. To the fans, it’s life and death. (Well, football life and death, which is arguably more serious.)
Matches That Live Forever (For Better or Worse)
Over the decades, the derby has served up everything: screamers, red cards, last-minute heartbreakers, and enough controversy to fuel conspiracy theories for decades.
- The 3–2 in 2010: Forest fans still grin about it, Derby fans still wince.
- The 2019 2–2 draw: Forest scored in the 96th minute, Derby equalised in the 97th. Fans aged a decade in those two minutes.
- Any match at Pride Park: Usually described by Forest supporters as “a fun away day if you enjoy booing sheep mascots and having beer thrown at you.”
Ask any fan for their favourite derby moment and you’ll get a story delivered with such passion you’d think they were recalling the birth of their first child.
The Banter (and the Internet Wars)
In the modern age, the rivalry has gone digital. Social media has added a whole new battlefield. Memes, gifs, and photoshops fly faster than passes on the pitch. Derby fans love reminding Forest of their years outside the Premier League. Forest fans love pointing to their European Cups like a kid waving a golden ticket.
A typical Twitter exchange might go:
- Forest fan: “Two European Cups, mate. How many you got?”
- Derby fan: “Enjoy finishing 16th in the Prem.”
- Neutral fan: “Can you both stop? I just wanted to watch Match of the Day.”
The Atmosphere: More Theatre Than Football
If you’ve never been to a Forest–Derby game, imagine panto season—but with more swearing, more police horses, and fewer fairy godmothers. The noise is deafening, the chants are creative (and occasionally unrepeatable), and the tension could be cut with a butter knife.
Fans plan their weekends around it, pubs order extra barrels, and the authorities prepare for a day that will test their patience, their fences, and their supply of high-visibility jackets.
Bragging Rights That Last Forever (Or Until Next Time)
Winning the derby isn’t just three points. It’s a golden ticket to months of smugness. Forest fans can walk taller, Derby fans can strut louder. The losing side? Well, they avoid work colleagues, mute WhatsApp groups, and mysteriously “can’t make it” to family gatherings where a cousin supports the other side.
It’s the kind of game where even a scrappy 1–0 win from a deflected corner is celebrated like a Champions League triumph. Because in this rivalry, context is everything.
Why It Matters (Even If It Shouldn’t)
Let’s be honest: in the grand scheme of things, whether sheep or trees are superior doesn’t matter. But that’s the beauty of football rivalries—they matter because we make them matter.
The Forest–Derby derby is more than just a game. It’s history, culture, humour, and identity all rolled into 90 chaotic minutes. It’s the knowledge that your team beating “them lot” means more than a mid-table finish or even, dare I say, a promotion race.
Because when the dust settles, you can look across the A52, smile smugly, and say: “We won. Again.”
Final Whistle
So next time you see Forest and Derby on the fixture list, don’t just think of it as another Championship (or Premier League, or League One—let’s not jinx it) clash. Think of it as the East Midlands’ very own Shakespearean feud, complete with betrayal, comedy, tragedy, and lots of shouting.
Sheep versus trees. Derby versus Forest. It’s silly, it’s serious, and it’s absolutely brilliant.
And whatever the score, Brian Clough is probably somewhere up there, shaking his head, muttering:
“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.”