How Nottingham Forest lined up last time club were in Prem in 1999 and where are they now including Chris Bart-Williams

NOTTINGHAM FOREST will return to the Premier League after a 23 year absence following their 1-0 play-off final victory over Huddersfield yesterday.

The sight of Forest’s red shirts back in the big time will evoke memories of Brian Clough teams of yesteryear, featuring greats like John Robertson and Stuart Pearce.

Mark Crossley is comforted after Forest’s 1999 relegation is confirmedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

By the time they said their last farewell in 1999, however, the greats of the City Ground had moved on.

Forest’s relegation was confirmed after an April defeat to Aston Villa, with boss Ron Atkinson vowing to retire after their final game of the season – a home clash with rivals Leicester on May 16, 1999.

Amid Forest’s promotion, let’s remind ourselves of their last side to play in the Premier League, on that 1999 day against the Foxes.

MARK CROSSLEY

A veteran of Forest’s 1991 FA Cup final and mid-90s Uefa Cup campaign, Crossley made 395 appearances before leaving in 2000 ahead of permanent moves to Middlesbrough, Fulham, Oldham and Chesterfield.

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Forest back in top-flight for first time in 23 years after edging Huddersfield

He has since coached at Chesterfield, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley – and was even caretaker manager of Notts County in 2018.

MATTHIEU LOUIS-JEAN

French full-back made a permanent move from Le Havre after relegation and stayed for six years before an ill-fated spell at Norwich.

Louis-Jean, 46, spent time as a scout for Forest before joining Marseille as head scout last year.

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STEVE CHETTLE

Local lad played 529 times for Forest after coming through the academy, becoming their third-highest appearance maker.

He subsequently played for Barnsley, Walsall and Grimsby after leaving and is now head of academy at Basford, just outside Nottingham.

Steve Chettle made 529 appearances for ForestCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

THIERRY BONALAIR

The first Frenchman to play for Forest, he made 80 appearances before leaving in 2000 – scoring five times.

Bonalair, 55, had a brief stint at FC Zurich in Switzerland before retiring, and he is now a scout at another of his former sides, Lille.

ALAN ROGERS

Forest paid £2million to sign the left-back from Tranmere in 1997 and he stayed until a 2001 move to rivals Leicester.

Rogers later returned to the City Ground for two years in 2004 before retiring in 2007. He has been caretaker boss at Tranmere and has also managed non-league side Skelmersdale – as well as having a stint working in Burnley’s academy.

CHRIS BART-WILLIAMS

The midfielder scored Forest’s last goal in the Premier League with his 76th-minute winner against Leicester, and he would remain at the City Ground until 2002.

After retiring in 2006 he moved to the United States and helped coach their successful women’s national team. Aged 47, he now works in US academy football.

Chris Bart-Williams bagged the winner against LeicesterCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

CARLTON PALMER

Former England international joined Forest in January 1999 for £1.1m but could not save them from the drop and moved to Coventry in the September of that year following a forgettable spell.

He subsequently managed Stockport and Mansfield – before a brief stint in charge of Grantham last year.

STEVE MELTON

Academy graduate made his debut against Leicester but ultimately failed to make the grade at Forest before moving to Stoke in 2000.

A two-year spell at Brighton followed, as well as a stay at Hull before he dropped into non-league.

HUGO PORFIRIO

The winger made nine appearances on loan from Benfica, with Forest ultimately deciding against making the Portuguese international’s move permanent.

Since retiring in 2008, Porfirio has worked within Sporting Lisbon’s scouting department.

DOUGIE FREEDMAN

The Scot scored 23 times in 83 appearances before moving on to a second spell at Crystal Palace in 2000.

Freedman, 47, is now sporting director at Selhurst Park having managed the Eagles, Bolton and Forest.

Dougie Freedman bagged 23 goals for ForestCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

MARLON HAREWOOD

Striker started his career at Forest, scoring 55 goals before moving to West Ham in 2003, subsequently helping the Hammers to promotion.

A 2007 Aston Villa switch followed – while he also had loan spells at Wolves, Newcastle and Barnsley. Harewood would briefly return for a second spell at Forest in 2012, before hanging up his boots in 2016.

Marlon Harewood left the City Ground in 2003… before a brief 2012 returnCredit: PA:Press Association

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk