The London Trickies are 40 today. The London and Southern Counties’ branch of the Nottingham Forest came into being in the upstairs of a public house in Wandsworth, appropriately named Foresters, on the evening of Tuesday, September 13, 1977.

Co-founders of the club were two enthusiastic London-based Forest fans – Robin Morris and Ron Rulton.

Having already gained potential members by advertising in Forest matchday programmes and made contact with the Association of Provincial Football Clubs, sufficient interest was gained to formally launch the branch.

Among the interested attendees was the club captain John McGovern and we are hopeful that the man who went on to lift the European Cup twice will be at next month’s 40th anniversary party in his role as club ambassador.

Forest commercial manager John Carter was also at that event, underlining what a trailblazing organisation the branch was as the first official supporters’ branch to be formed from outside the traditional catchment area around Nottingham.  Of course, numerous others from around the UK and abroad have been formed since.

Co-incidentally, on that very same evening Forest made a rather interesting signing – goalkeeper Peter Shilton from Stoke – who went on to make rather a big impact.

As present day committee member Simon Bristow has written for the Forza Garibaldi website, the London Trickies have taken even greater relevance at a time when Forest supporter groups and organisations are enjoying an overdue renaissance.

Our official 40th anniversary celebrations take place on Saturday, October 7, 2017. For more details click here