People are just realising what Nottingham Forest’s badge means and where it came from

NOTTINGHAM FOREST are one of the most historic clubs in English football.

Forest returned to the Premier League after 23 years last spring - and are hoping their comeback won't be shortlived.

The Tricky Trees have a heavy legacy to live up to with Brian Clough and co dominating back in the late 1970s.

Nottingham won the First Division title in 1978 and two European Cups in 1979 and 1980.

And all of that success took place shortly after the club adopted the badge they still don to this day.

In February 1973, the Nottingham Post launched a competition to design a new crest.

The publication received over 800 entries from participants across the city and beyond, someone even tried their luck from as far as Australia.

But it was David Lewis, a young designer from Cossall who was working at Nottingham Polytechnic - now known as Nottingham Trent University - who prevailed just two months later.

Over the months that followed, Lewis honed his design alongside then club secretary Ken Smales.

The final version soon followed and so the Tricky Trees were officially born.

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Lewis drew the famous tree, which symbolises Sherwood Forest as a tribute to Robin Hood's famous legend.

He added three wavy lines, which represent the river Trent, and soon two stars followed after the club's back-to-back European titles.

Forest are now hoping to do the badge proud this season amid a fierce relegation scrap.