Nuno leads silk-and-steel Forest's rise up ladder

Amid the English Premier League's global growth, there have been many victims.

- John Brewin

Leading those are the provincial clubs, in small cities and big towns, who in the days before bumper TV deals, international sponsors and globalisation, could compete for the top honours.

And there are few more traditional English clubs than Nottingham Forest, with close to 160 years of history and twice winners of the old European Cup in 1979 and 1980.

It has been 30 years since Forest finished in the top three of the Premier League, with Stan Collymore leading the forward line, and Stuart Pearce the redoubtable captain, under manager Frank Clark.

That Forest team lived in the shadow of the reign of Brian Clough from 1975 to 1993, when they played neat, ordered football with a tough edge and regularly did a number on the glamour clubs.