Nottinghamshire

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

This was a night Nottingham Forest fans had waited decades for, with around 5,000 in Spain for the 'I was there' moment.

Some of those present were in Munich and Madrid in 1979 and 1980 when Forest beat Malmo and Hamburg respectively to win back-to-back European Cups under Brian Clough.

Others in Seville were at Yeovil Town, Scunthorpe United and Hartlepool United for demoralising League One defeats in 2005-06.

On Wednesday, there was plenty for them to be proud about before Forest were frustrated by Antony's late equaliser.

Ange Postecoglou, of course, won this competition with Tottenham last season and the Forest boss looked to have got his tactics right on a night his players played with flair and an adventurous spirit in the first half.

But it was a different story after Douglas Luiz was replaced at the start of the second half after suffering a hamstring problem.

Forest's attacking statistics were impressive, with the visitors registering 16 attempts - six on target - to Betis' nine (four on target).

Unfortunately for Forest, they were unable to hang on for what would have been an eye-catching win.

Instead Postecoglou remains without a win after four games in charge, although this was Forest's most positive display since the Australian's appointment.

Postecoglou's first four Forest games have all been away from home but they return to the City Ground when Sunderland visit on Saturday (17:30 BST).

The question is: will Igor Jesus keep his place ahead of Chris Wood, who scored 20 Premier League goals last season?

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

What did you make of Forest's display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

There are some familiar names in the Real Betis starting XI, including former Manchester United forward Antony, ex-Red Devils loan signing Sofyan Amrabat and former Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

Real Betis XI: Lopez, Firpo, Gomez, Natan, Ortiz, Amrabat, Lo Celso, Altimira, Ezzalzouli, Bakambu, Antony

The big news from the Nottingham Forest dressing room is that Chris Wood, who scored 20 Premier League goals last season, drops to the bench. Brazilian forward Igor Jesus gets the nod up front.

There are three changes from the side that started the 1-1 draw at Burnley last weekend. Ibrahim Sangare and Callum Hudson-Odoi also return in place of Dan Ndoye and Dilane Bakwa.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Williams, Milenkovic, Morato, Zinchenko, Luiz, Anderson, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus

The countdown is well and truly on. It is just two hours until Nottingham Forest kick off their first European campaign in 30 years.

Plenty of fans have travelled the distance to Seville while others have opted to stay closer to home, but everyone will be hearing the Europa League anthem tonight.

BBC Radio Nottingham have got the build-up covered as always, so join David Jackson and Colin Fray for a special pre-match show live from Seville.

They will be counting down to kick-off, setting the Spanish scene, catching up with supporters and revealing the team news on a historic night for the Reds.

Listen live on BBC Sounds from 18:00 BST

Thank you for the stories and photos from those of you travelling out to Seville.

Or maybe you are staying in Nottingham to enjoy the match?

We would love to hear whatever your plans are.

Here are a few more, keep them coming:

Send us your plans and photos here

Listen to Shut Up And Show More Football from Seville

James: I was booked on a flight to Germany. I arrived in plenty of time at 4am for a 6:20am flight. Airport was closed and we were not allowed in.

Eventually they let us into the airport at 6am but security was jampacked and by the time I got through security it was 6.45am and the flight had gone! Hundreds of people have missed flights that it was impossible to get to because the airport wouldn't let passengers in. Planes must have left empty! Crazy.

Ryan: Yes drove down from Nottingham at midnight for my flight at 6.30am to Faro. Flight took off empty. Now no other alternatives for me to get there in time or unless I pay well over £600 which isn't feasible. Why did it take so long for the fire to be put out?

Jonathan: Just landed in Barcelona from Gatwick. Next flight to Seville is in 90 minutes so would be rude not to sample the local delicacies!

Nic: We booked - or so I thought - accommodation right next to their ground. Unfortunately, it's shut for renovation!

Image source, Getty Images

The last Nottingham Forest manager to take the club into Europe says he is "excited" for this season's Europa League campaign and "would love Forest to win the competition."

Frank Clark guided Forest to a third-placed Premier League finish in the 1994-95 season, earning the East Midlands club a spot in the Uefa Cup - now known as the Europa League.

It was only Clark's second season in charge. The previous year he had steered Forest to promotion from the second tier after replacing legendary boss Brian Clough upon relegation from the top flight in 1993.

"Time waits for no man," he joked on BBC East Midlands Today after being reminded 30 years had passed. "It's something I always look back on because it was a great time.

"I would hope the fans are really looking forward to it. A lot of them won't have been around 30 years ago and they will have only heard about the last time we were in Europe by their father or grandfather.

"I am excited for it too."

The 82-year-old, who was also a player and chairman at the club, now happily calls himself a fan and has faith in new manager Ange Postecoglou.

"I would be very reluctant to give advice to any present day manager because I know how difficult the job is," he added,

"He comes over quite well on the TV and he knows what he is doing and has the experience from last season at Tottenham. That will be very important.

"I would love Forest to win the competition."

Image source, Wrexham AFC

Wrexham have announced that initial work on the new Kop Stand at the Stok Cae Ras will begin later this month.

The club have appointed McLaren Construction Midlands and North under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement for the work.

Work on the new stand was originally due to begin in 2023 but was delayed because of what the club called "additional complications".

Revised designs for the new 5,500-capacity Kop Stand were presented to Wrexham County Borough Council earlier this year, which were subsequently approved.

In July, the club submitted a further planning application for the installation of up to 2,250 further seats in the new stand.

That would take the potential capacity to 7,750 and take the overall capacity of the Stok Cae Ras to just over 18,000.

The new stand, along with other works planned at the stadium, will make Wrexham's ground fully compliant with Uefa category 4 stadium standards.

The work at the Stok Cae Ras, announced as one of the host venues for next summer's Uefa European Under-19 men's finals, is scheduled to be completed during the 2026-27 season.

Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson said: "The new Kop Stand will be the heart of the reimagined stadium - increasing capacity, enhancing the experience for fans, and anchoring our place in our home city and as part of the wider Gateway Partnership regeneration plans."

Image source, Joe Hollman

Nottingham Forest fans are experiencing disruption on their journey to Seville today due to a fire at Stansted airport.

The fire took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning, leading to some areas of the airport having to close and causing some delays.

Forest face Real Betis in the Europa League tonight in their first European game for 30 years.

Speaking to BBC Radio Essex, Reds fan Joe Hollman said: "We thought we'd given ourselves loads of time.

"We left Nottingham about midnight and got to Stansted about three o'clock. Everything was going swimmingly, we got through security really quick, got into departures and then all hell broke loose.

"We were sitting down to get some breakfast and got evacuated from the restaurant. We weren't allowed to leave departures, couldn't get to the gate, and then by the time we got to the gate the plane had gone.

"We've had to book on a later one - we're waiting here now. Hopefully, this one isn't delayed. We're on a bit of a tight schedule trying to get to Seville in time for the game tonight.

"There's loads of Forest fans in the airport. We were chatting to a couple who are now flying to Porto so will have a bit of a drive the other end. We're doing everything we can to get there.

"One of our friends was stuck in security and he's not been able to get on the new flight. He's going to go home - he's going to miss the day."

Have your travel plans been affected?

Let us know

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Nottingham commentator Colin Fray says Forest manager Ange Postecoglou wants fans to "create more memories" as the Reds get set for European competition and another landmark on their "incredible rise" over recent seasons.

"I'm fortunate to have been doing the job that long that I covered all the games in that 1995-96 Uefa Cup run as it was then," Fray told Today on BBC Radio 4.

"This is the first time they will have been involved in this style of competition in Europe. The last four seasons have been a meteoric rise. Four years ago this week Steve Cooper was appointed at Forest when they were bottom of the Championship.

"An incredible rise over the last few years. Forest paid a lot of money for a lot of players to bolster their squad. They now have a squad they feel can compete over both the Premier League and the Europa League. That will be tested over the next few months."

Forest finished seventh in the league last season and will compete in a Uefa competition for the first time in 29 years when they face Real Betis on Wednesday.

"[Ange] Postecoglou could do with a win certainly," Fray added.

"In terms of the Europa League it's not the end of the world if Forest don't get three points tonight. Real Betis are a good European side, sixth in La Liga, in pot one in the Europa League and it is away from home so therefore the toughest game of the eight group matches that Forest face.

"This is Ange Postecoglou's fourth away game in a row since he has taken control of the club. That is pretty unprecedented I think. He could certainly do with a win before they go back to the City Ground to face Sunderland on Saturday in the Premier League.

"Postecoglou himself is confident, upbeat, excited about this European campaign and wanting the fans to create more memories."

David Jackson, Colin Fray and the BBC Radio Nottingham team are in Seville and ready for Forest's return to European action on Wednesday evening.

We have started to hear from a few of you on your journeys.

If you're on your way, if you're in Seville or even if you have just got something exciting lined up for the game at home, tell us - and send us your photos!

Image source, Getty Images

Nick: Leaving a rainy Paris for the heat of Seville as the only representative of the small but vociferous Paris Tricky Trees fan group. Hoping for a great three days topped off by a win or draw!

Tim: We're flying out of Stansted early to Porto, then on to Seville. Home journey is Seville to Eindhoven in Holland and then back to Stansted. Can't wait!

Send us your plans and photos here

David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The news that Oleksandr Zinchenko has been added to Forest's Europa League squad (replacing Ola Aina thanks to Uefa's new rules on long-term injuries) makes it 17 Forest players now who have previous experience in European competition.

It is this experience - and that of the head coach who won this trophy last season, of course - that contrasts sharply with the young fans who are here experiencing an away trip in Europe for the first time.

In his interview with us, recorded by the side of the pitch at the Olympic Stadium, Ange Postecoglou said that 'the new generation want their own stories' - and he's right. It has also been a long wait for the older fans, and those we have seen are aware how easily these things can be here and then gone again before you know it.

They are here to enjoy themselves, and why not?

What is also true though is that the players have the ability and the know-how to represent their supporters properly on the pitch. Nikola Milenkovic said the players were 'excited like the fans' to be in Europe.

He has played in two finals for Fiorentina so knows about playing against different styles and in different conditions but is clearly aware of the responsibility they have to these supporters.

It is going to be a fascinating night tonight, against an experienced side (and manager in Manuel Pellegrini).

But for the fans getting ready to experience their own stories, they are just hoping they will be happy ones.

Listen to a special Shut Up And Show More Football podcast recorded in Seville

Image source, Getty Images

Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley says his phone "has not stopped all week" as anticipation builds on Nottingham Forest's return to Europe.

"It is 30 years since we were last in Europe and I was in that team," said Crossley on BBC East Midlands Today. "We had a great European campaign.

"When I look back at my 12 years at Forest, I can honestly say that it was my favourite time.

"My message to the players would be enjoy it, embrace it, and think about all the travelling fans who are spending their hard-earned money to be there.

"It will be a really special time for [the supporters] and everyone will enjoy it."

Forest kick-off their Europa League campaign with a trip to Real Betis on Wednesday and you can follow all the build-up on BBC Radio Nottingham.