Pearce: Forest fans were key to England date
STUART Pearce today said it was the City Ground fans that persuaded him to bring his England under-21 side to Nottingham.
And he revealed that Reds midfielder Lewis McGugan was close to forcing his way into his squad.
England take on France on Tuesday evening, with Pearce set to return to the home dug-out for the first time since his spell as caretaker boss in 1997.
The team travel to face Norway first on Saturday, before returning to home shores for a game Pearce says he is very much looking forward to.
"It will be a proud moment for me. The club means a great deal to me, given the time I have spent with them over the years and the connection I have with Forest," he said.
"It will be a big night for me, it will be a big game for us – but the most important thing is that it is a big part of our preparations for the summer.
"And I do think it is vital that the under-21s get out and about around the country, with the senior team playing at Wembley all the time.
"I suggested that Nottingham might be a good place to come.
"It is a good-sized ground, they are passionate about their football and the crowds at Forest have been a good size, fantastic over the past few years from the Premiership days right through to League One.
"With all that in mind, we felt it would be a great venue to bring them back to."
Pearce was disappointed not to have a Forest player in the squad and said that, while McGugan is on his radar, he has some tough competition.
"It would have been nice to have had a Forest player in the squad," he said. "And we have been keeping an eye on Lewis McGugan.
"But at the moment we felt that he was not quite ready. We are looking all the time, we have been to Forest a few times.
"If anyone comes with a late burst ahead of the summer, they will be considered.
"We have certainly been looking at him. I have report after report on games he has played.
"But this is a difficult squad to get into. You have to get past the likes of James Milner, Tom Huddlestone and Mark Noble – players who are playing regularly in the Premiership.
"That is not an easy task, you know."
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by banksy, bulwell
Friday, March 27 2009, 7:10AM
“the judas pearce turned his back on forest and more importantly brian clough and engineered his self a £1m move to newcastle. noticeable by his abscence from the great mans funeral. i owe it to the fans shove it pearce”
by psycho is a, ram baa baa
Thursday, March 26 2009, 9:37PM
“Joe Ive got a great picture of Pearce kissing the Derby badge when he turned out for us in 2,006 im sure hes a closet ram”
by Joe Baker, Zigger Zagger
Thursday, March 26 2009, 8:47PM
“Barry, Stapleford, another clown on drugs, Stuart Pearce was a loyal servant to NFFC and was the opitomie of a true professional, Even when a few of the others who were badly advised he chose to stay at forest when they were relegated, and helped them back into the Premership,. After everything he did for our club, he went with mine and alot of real supporters blessings. At the time he wasn't ready for managership, so dont try and lay the blame on him for that one”
by Barry, Stapleford
Thursday, March 26 2009, 7:56PM
“What a pity he did not think of the fans when he upped and left just when the club needed him, and that was after a testimonial.”
by NEV, DerbyRam
Thursday, March 26 2009, 6:22PM
“Womble
I heard they chose the sh*tty ground because it was pretty easy to get to as it's the 'dead centre' of Nothingham.
Ewe Raaaaaaaaaaaaaams”