3/1 To Win
Tom Huddlestone has great memories from playing in East Midlands Derbies and has recalled them ahead of Monday’s encounter.
The midfielder had his first taste of an East Midlands Derby at the age of 16 as then-manager George Burley threw him into action against his home-town club in September 2003.
It could have been a baptism of fire for the youngster, but he adapted to the game well and almost guided his side to a famous victory at the City Ground as the scoreline finished 1-1.
“I remember it well,” Huddlestone recalled. “I started right midfield and Lee Holmes got knocked out in the first 15 minutes and I ended up on the left.
“It was a hot day and I think we could have nicked it late in the game with Michael Johnson hitting the crossbar.
“Fifteen years is a long time but they still mean as much to me now as they did then. It has always been good battles against them over the years.”
Battles between the sides continued, and later in the 2003/04 season, the infamous ‘Kenco Coffee Cup’ fixture occurred.
“I was speaking to Michael Dawson (Forest defender and former team-mate) not long ago about that and I don’t think their goalkeeper really played at Forest again after that, even though he couldn’t do anything about it but I have some good memories,” he said.
“It was a long time ago, but they are games that I relish and coming back last season was a big part of that.”
Huddlestone knows more than most who much this game means to the supporters and his personal story suggests how hungry he is to get one over on his rivals.
“Everyone knows the general rivalry but on a personal level, being born and raised in Nottingham, my family and friends are Nottingham Forest fans, and looking back now, being let go as a kid makes for a good mix,” he commented.
“As much as you want every game to feel similar, the two against Forest have a bit more significance for me and my family.
“I was at Forest from under 9s until under 12s so I had four seasons there and then I was let go. At the time it was devastating, being a 12-year-old being told your not quite good enough, and then a few weeks later I came to Derby at under 13s. I kicked on quickly after that.”
Kicked on, he certainly did.
The midfielder has spent the majority of his career in the Premier League, mainly with Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City, however, looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, the midfielder is excited.
“It’s a perfect setting and scenario,” he said.
“We just need to go out there and get a 90-minute performance out of all of us. Any three points in a local derby is good, regardless of performance or anything else.”
