Tom Huddlestone ready to star in another derby between Nottingham Forest and Derby County

Former Nottingham Forest youngster Tom Huddlestone, rejected by the Reds aged 12 and who then went on to Derby County and success in football, has recalled some of his East Midlands Derby memories ahead of Monday's encounter between the two arch-rivals.
Tom Huddleston
Photo by Jez TigheTom Huddleston
Photo by Jez Tighe
Tom Huddleston Photo by Jez Tighe

The midfielder had his first taste of an East Midlands derby at the age of 16 as then Derby manager George Burley threw him into action against his hometown club in September 2003.

Huddlestone told Rams TV: “I remember it (the 2-2 draw) well. I started right midfield and Lee Holmes got knocked out in the first 15 minutes and I ended up on the left.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“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,” Huddlestone, a former Spirs and Hull City star, said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was a long time ago, but they are games that I relish and coming back last season was a big part of that.

“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.

“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.”