THE GROUND
The City Ground
Nottingham
NG2 5FJ
Nottingham Forest moved to The City Ground in 1898, 33 years after they were formed and six years after they first played in the Football League.
The ground was substantially redeveloped in the early 1990s and was used for three matches when England hosted the European Championships in 1996.
The City Ground now has an all-seater capacity of 30,576.
The stadium is known for its location; it backs on to the River Trent and is within a short walk of Notts County’s Meadow Lane and Trent Bridge, home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.
Away fans are given a section of the lower tier of the Bridgeford Stand, behind one of the goals at The City Ground.
The usual allocation is 2,000 tickets.
THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
It is approximately 128 miles from Griffin Park to The City Ground by road.
Most drivers will approach Nottingham from the M1 – supporters can leave at a variety of junctions to reach the stadium.
The further north is junction 26 and involves taking the A610 and following signs for football traffic.
Another alternative is to exit at junction 21A and take the A46, A606, A52 and A6011 to the stadium.
Leaving at junction 24 involves taking the A453 and then the A52.
There is car parking available nearby at places including Meadow Lane and The Cattle Market, which Bees fans would have used when visiting Notts County.
Street parking is also available.
The nearest station is Nottingham which is under a mile from The City Ground.
Nottingham Station is served by East Midlands Trains from London St Pancras.
The Supporters’ Association will be running coaches to every game this season – details of times and prices will be announced in due course.
THE FIXTURES
Brentford will travel to The City Ground on Wednesday November 5,
The Bees then welcome Nottingham Forest to Griffin Park on Easter Monday, April 6.
THE RECENT HISTORY
Nottingham Forest will expect to challenge for promotion to the Premier League in 2014/15, as they have done in many recent years.
Forest were one of the country’s biggest names in the 1970s and 80s, winning one English title, four League Cups and two European Cups under Brian Clough.
They finished third in the top flight in 1994/95 but have not been back in the Premier League since relegation in 1999.
They spent three years in League One after relegation in 2005 but got back up in 2008 so will now be starting their seventh season in The Championship.
They reached the Play-Offs twice and finished eighth in 2012/13 after a late collapse.
Last season Forest looked set for another promotion push before an even more dramatic fall.
They only lost four of their first 31 games and were fifth in mid-February but only won two of their last 16 games.
Billy Davies’ reign as boss was brought to an end in March and Stuart Pearce was appointed.
He did not, however, start until July 1 and Forest limped to an 11th place finish under caretaker Gary Brazil.
Former Forest star Pearce will be charged with ensuring Forest go closer in 2014/15.
THE MANAGER
Stuart Pearce has been in charge at Nottingham Forest for the past two weeks.
The 52-year-old made his name during 12 years as a played at The City Ground, playing more than 400 league games for Forest.
His playing days, which took him from Wealdstone to 78 England caps, also saw him feature for Coventry City, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Manchester City.
He had a spell as caretaker boss at Forest and two years in charge at Manchester City but has spent much of his managerial career in international football.
Pearce has been England Under-21 boss and England Assistant Manager, he also managed Great Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games.
He left the England Under-21 job last summer and agreed to go back to Forest for the 2014/15 season.
THE TOP SCORER
Jamie Paterson scored 12 goals in all competitions in 2013/14, his first season at Nottingham Forest.
Paterson joined Forest from Walsall last summer for an undisclosed fee and hit eight goals in 32 Championship games.
The 22-year-old came through the ranks at Walsall and can play either up front or on the wing.
His first Forest goals came in the FA Cup against West Ham, scoring a hat-trick in a televised Third Round tie.
THE KEY MEN
The Forest squad looks set to be different to the one which competed in 2013/14.
Among those leaving are midfield players Jonathan Greening and Guy Moussi and striker Marcus Tudgay.
Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara, who played in the 2014 World Cup and made 32 Championship appearances last term, has also left along with Matt Derbyshire, who scored seven goals in 30 league games in 2013/14.
Forest have signed striker Lars Veldwijk and completed a permanent deal for Danny Fox, who spent the second half of last season on loan from Southampton.
Other new arrivals include Spanish defender Roger Riera.
Forest chopped and changed their starting XI last term with only goalkeeper Karl Darlow starting more than 40 games.
Attacker Jamie Mackie started 38, scoring four goals, while Forest’s other attacking options included top-scorer Paterson, Simon Cox, who scored eight goals in 34 Championship games, and Darius Henderson, who scored eight goals.
Andy Reid scored nine goals from midfield in 32 games while Henri Lansbury scored seven in 29 appearances.
In defence Eric Lichaj played 24 games and Danny Collins played 23 while Greg Halford made 36 appearances.
THE FIRST MEETING
February 6 1909, FA Cup Second Round – Nottingham Forest 1 Brentford 0
Brentford line-up: McIver; Rhodes, Ewing; Badger, Jay, Richards; Ryalls, Sugden, McKenzie, Connelly, Buxton
Southern League strugglers Brentford exit FA Cup at The City Ground.
THE LAST MEETING
April 14 2007, Coca-Cola League One – Brentford 2 Nottingham Forest 4
Brentford line-up: Nelson; O’Connor, Griffiths, Frampton, Keith; Mousinho (sub Willock), Pinault, Leary (sub Charles), Brooker; Owusu, Ide (sub Montague)
Subs (not used): Masters, Osborne
Brentford goal scorers: Pinault, Ide
Already-relegated Brentford let a two-goal lead slip as they are beaten at home by promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest.
THE MEMORABLE DAY
September 3 2005, Coca-Cola League One – Nottingham Forest 1 Brentford 2
Brentford line-up: Nelson; O’Connor, Sodje, Turner, Frampton; Tabb, Hutchinson, Pratley, Gayle; Rankin, Fitzgerald (sub Peters)
Subs (not used): Bankole, Osborne, Lewis, Campbell
Brentford goal scorers: Frampton, Pratley
Darren Pratley fired a late winner as Brentford are victorious at The City Ground.
THE ODDS
Sky Bet is offering 18/1 on Nottingham Forest winning The Championship in 2014/15.
Those who back Forest can get ¼ of the odds if they finish in the top three.
Every bet you make with Sky Bet benefits Brentford FC – click here to see the Championship market.